In this episode, Rabbi Reinman describes the spread of paganism and discusses how it corrupted the human race and caused the decline of altruism and morality.
Chapter Eleven: The God Race
If you ask people in the modern Western world today to describe a good person, most of them by far would respond that it’s a person who helps others. But you would have gotten a different response in the pagan world. A good person in the pagan’s opinion is brave on the battlefield, works hard to provide for his family and is loyal to his friends and comrades. Altruism, unselfish regard for the welfare of others, had no place in the pagan world.
Imagine that a stranger approaches a pagan and says, “I’m seriously ill. The only thing that can save me is an expensive operation. I’m trying to raise some money. Can you help me?”
What would the pagan say?
He’d say, “I worked hard for my money. Why should I share it with you? You’re not my family, you’re not my neighbor or my friend. You’re a stranger. If you can’t afford the operation, then you should die. What does that have to do with me? Is it my fault? Did I make you sick?” …
Read more at rabbireinman.com.