Under the Roman Empire the city of Alexandria in Egypt was a great meeting point between east and west. From the east came the followers of many pagan religions, together with jews and christians. These all mingled with the heirs of the first european scientists and philosophers from Greece. The authotities of the State sometimes persecuted the christians. But philosophers, whether pagan, jewish, or christian, were sincerelly trying to learn all the truth they could; and they were willing to learn from one another. All made some mistakes, but all believed that, if they were honest, they must draw nearer to God. Many of the writings of the jew Philo and the christian Clement and origen have come down to us today. they were trying to take all that men then knew of the universe and to understand it in the light of their faith. Origen in particular was one of the gratest minds that have been accepted by the chritian cause. Some of his discoveries have been accepted by the Chuech ever since his time, though certain of his speculations have had less influence.