Once Rome and the rest of Europe were converted, why was it necessary for the Christians to invent more cruel?

Question

tortures and more inhumane forms of death, than the Romans?

Answer 1

Once converted, their belief that Christianity is the only right religion made them torture others into adopting Christianity. All in the name of Christianity.

Answer 2

tammidee10,
Japandra was right. It was the Roman Catholic heiarchy that decided to begin and refine persecution. Here is a little excerpt from Foxes Book of Martyrs:
CHAPTER VI
An Account of the Persecutions in Italy, Under the Papacy

We shall now enter on an account of the persecutions in Italy, a country which has been, and still is,

1. The center of popery.

2. The seat of the pontiff.

3. The source of the various errors which have spread themselves over other countries, deluded the minds of thousands, and diffused the clouds of superstition and bigotry over the human understanding.

In pursuing our narrative we shall include the most remarkable persecutions which have happened, and the cruelties which have been practised,

1. By the immediate power of the pope.

2. Through the power of the Inquisition.

3. By the bigotry of the Italian princes.

In the twelfth century, the first persecutions under the papacy began in Italy, at the time that Adrian, an Englishman, was pope, being occasioned by the following circumstances:

A learned man, and an excellent orator of Brescia, named Arnold, came to Rome, and boldly preached against the corruptions and innovations which had crept into the Church. His discourses were so clear, consistent, and breathed forth such a pure spirit of piety, that the senators and many of the people highly approved of, and admired his doctrines.

This so greatly enraged Adrian that he commanded Arnold instantly to leave the city, as a heretic. Arnold, however, did not comply, for the senators and some of the principal people took his part, and resisted the authority of the pope.

Adrian now laid the city of Rome under an interdict, which caused the whole body of clergy to interpose; and, at length he persuaded the senators and people to give up the point, and suffer Arnold to be banished. This being agreed to, he received the sentence of exile, and retired to Germany, where he continued to preach against the pope, and to expose the gross errors of the Church of Rome.

Adrian, on this account, thirsted for his blood, and made several attempts to get him into his hands; but Arnold, for a long time, avoided every snare laid for him. At length, Frederic Barbarossa arriving at the imperial dignity, requested that the pope would crown him with his own hand. This Adrian complied with, and at the same time asked a favor of the emperor, which was, to put Arnold into his hands. The emperor very readily delivered up the unfortunate preacher, who soon fell a martyr to Adrian's vengeance, being hanged, and his body burnt to ashes, at Apulia. The same fate attended several of his old friends and companions.

Answer 3

The catholics had fallen away from the gospel, hence the lutheran reformation. Since the reformation the Catholic church has had some good times and some bad times but overall they have come closer to the gospel than they were at their worst.

All of this is not to say that the protestant church has been perfect, for there were gross errors commited by people who claimed to be members of the various protestant denominations. It is very unfortunate that there have been so many people tortured and killed "in the name of christianity" but if I were to invoke the name of George Washington before I were to commit murder it would not be George Washington's fault and should not cast a shadow upon others who hold Gearge Washington in high esteem.

I will admit, not everyone who claims to be a Christian is good. But, not everyone who claims to be a Christian really is one. the works of a man will prove the faith, but it is not through your own works that you will be saved, only by the works of Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

There was a time in history where spiritual death was considered much more serious than physical death.

Those who would choose to lead the faithful into heresy or mortal sin would be given several chances to repent. If not, stronger measures were taken.

Those were the rules. Everybody knew them.

We have similar rules about certain crimes (like terrorism and murder) today, only there's no second or third chances given.

Fox's book of martyrs is misnamed. It should be Fox's Fairy Tales.

Answer 5

True religions teach people of the sacredness of life. People without religion are the more likely to abuse others. So what your trying to say is that during the dark ages experienced in Europe all religions were wiped out? Look at the most religious people on earth, the Jew. Have you ever heard of them torturing others?

Answer 6

"The Christians" refers o every person who has ever been or will ever be Christian.

Many people make mistakes, we do not blame every German for th Holocaust, we don't blame every Muslim for Terrorism.

I do agree though, the torture and murder of anyone is wrong, especially in the name of religion.
Actually, those punishments were a continuation of the Romans, and every other Empire/civilization that uses torture.

Answer 7

Yeah the catholics were led astray and the protestants had to show them they true way by burning witches alive at the stake.

Answer 8

That was still Rome not true Christians,

Answer 9

I don't think that there are many tortures more cruel than crucifxtion.

Answer 10

If you mean the Spanish Inquisition, those were Catholics, not Christians.

And, I don't know why. U_U