Why did the leaders of Europe want their empires or kingdoms be Christian? What made Christianity special?

Question

Why not any other religion?

Answer 1

Some reasons....

1- Christianity was the only major religion they knew. The European countries, as successors to the Roman Empire, had mostly Christian populations, and on those times mankind was less prone to free-thinking and more prone to following traditions just for traditions' sake.
2- Christianity gave the kings, priests and nobility a moral and political justification to stay in power. It was a political alliance. The kings and nobility supported, enforced and expanded Christianity, and, in exchange, the priests told the population that they must support their king because he and his family were the chosen by God to rule over the country.
Basically, christianity was used as an excuse for kings and priests to keep their political power. Free-thinking and rebelliousness were seen as not-christian, therefore evil.
3- Just like the Roman Emperor Justinian realized when he made it the official religion of his empire, Christianity was useful for keeping people in control and mantaining the unfair social order.
"We are a nobility because we are the best. God has chosen us, etc...".
It's not a coincidence that secular society came together with the French revolution. Religion was one of the factors that helped (and still helps, in many parts of the world) to mantain the unfair monarchial social order, by spreading fear and ignorance among the population, and giving a moral justification to the existing power structure.
4- It was a damn good excuse to wage wars, colonize new lands, and murder indians.

Answer 2

In Scandinavia, the countries abandoned their old Norse gods gradually. The Christian missionaries moved in and the Kings changed the official religion to Christianity, in part to facilitate better trade and relations with other countries that believed in the "White Christ" (not referring to race; but to his purity).

Ordinary people weren't asked to convert, they were told to, on pain of death. "No" wasn't an option if you wanted to keep your head.

Islam was the religion of Saracens in a mystical land far, far away. Other religions were unknown.

Answer 3

It had nothing to do with Christianity but more so the establishement of the heirarchy of the Roman Catholic Church as a powerful ruling factor and using that as an excuse to rule over and conquer many lands. Read your European history and the history of the early church. You cannot confuse the teachings of Christ and His followers with the actions of a governing body of men hiding behind the name of God. Love in Christ, ~J~ <><

Answer 4

Eric when you imply greater than three hundred years in the past it's considering that there was once no change among Government and faith the guideline of kings was once justified by way of the devout leaders that is actual without reference to the faith supported.

Answer 5

Because Christians were the first to move into the area.

Answer 6

Because that's what they knew. The other religions wheren't "white" enough. Christainity started in Rome which is European. All other world religions formed in "savage" countries. Intersting question, it made me think.

Answer 7

The pagan ruler of Rome (in 305ad) chose Christianity because he thought we was going to lose power if he didn't. Not sure if that is what you are asking or not.

Answer 8

The Popes convinced the Kings that they could get them into Heaven if they bought indulgences from the Priests.

Answer 9

Most of them didn't. Millions of people were and are still killed in the name of the "Prince of Peace".

Most "Christian" holidays are just renamed pagan festivals. The "saints" are just the old Gods renamed.

Answer 10

christianity spread like wildfire through europe. since the word of god is supposedly the most powerful, the kings said they were related to god and people worshipped them.