Counterfactual History (9/1): If it wasn't for Constantine's dream, would Christianity have died out?

Question

sweet smile - Your claim that Constantine's actions were aligned with the interests of the majority (who were pagans) is not true at all. At the time, Christians were a minority (and were persecuted), but that all changed under Constantine's rule. I'll post an excerpt from a Wikipedia article if you don't believe me: "Christianity, a persecuted minority faith at Constantine's conversion in AD 312, had become the religion of the Empire by the end of the century."

http://www.theopedia.com/Church_history

Theopedia, not Wikipedia, sorry.

chrstnwrtr - He supposedly had this dream the night before the Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 AD).

Answer 1

Would Christianity have died out without Constantine's vision? No. Constantine became a patron of Christianity with the edict of Milan after the vision. But more then likely he would have anyway because he desired to be a great Emporer, and to be a great Emporer you must lead a great Empire. Great Empires are not built with the constant infighting that persisted in Rome, especially among Christians. At the time there was a large argument over Jesus being of like substance or same substance as God. It is told of fights breaking out in marketplaces over this. Constantine just wanted the debates over core beliefs settled. For those who say he had a preference as to which way it went is erroneous, as Constantines opinon seemed to vary depending on who he was talking to. Constantine did not push christianity or blend it into paganism, but people were tiring of the persecutions and infighting which was weakening the empire and his control. Unlike some people have suggested here Constantine did not set down Christian beliefs or policy. He did not even convert the Roman Empire to Christianity (remember he was not baptised until 337CE a few months before the died). Rome converted 50 years later under Thadieus, which then made Christianity the official religion, and put it on the map so to speak. Yes the vision was a cross and he was told in the vision that this symbol would win him the battle, so he and his soldiers all painted crosses on thier chests and won the battle against his brother in law I believe ( I cannot remember who he fought but there we several Emperors at the time. In winning the battle he was able to unite the empire. Sweet also before the Council of Nicaea, where core beliefs were set down some Christian Groups did not think Jesus was God, but God-like, before Nicaea what was believed, worshipped and honored varied from twon to town. Also Catholics do not worship Mary. The idea of the Trinity is what 3 as 1 is what keeps Christianity Monotheistic, otherwise it would be polytheistic, which is against the Jewish roots of Christianity.

Answer 2

If Christianity could survive the persecution of the 1st Century, I think it would have survived if Constantine had not experienced his conversion. The tenets had already been established for over three centuries thanks to the writings of the Apostle Paul, and Biblical can dates from at least a century before Constantine. It was still basically a minority religion in the Empire before 325, but it was influential enough that Constantine realized he needed its support in order to stay in control, which is why he ultimately endorsed it; but his failure to endorse it would not have stopped its growth, only slowed it down temporarily.

Answer 3

The growth of Christianity in the Roman empire prior to Constantine was broad and deep, and included infiltration of the army and elements of the officer core. If Constantine had not begun to activitely promote the creed of Christ, another emperor almost surely would have within a short time. By the fourth century, the growth of the core Christian beliefs had become too powerful to overcome.

Answer 4

Very interesting question. The conversion of Constantine was undoubtedly the big break for Christianity. And it came just at the right time. If it had happened earlier, Christianity wouldn't have been strong enough to take hold - the emperor wouldn't have been able to spread it enough. If it had happened later, Christianity wouldn't have been entrenched enough to survive the fall of the empire.

Answer 5

Christianity would not have died out. It would have remained one of the many cults of Rome. Constantine might have adopted Mithraism as the official religion of Rome but it would not have had much influence outside of the military.

Answer 6

who knows how true that legend is, anyway. But yes, Christianity already had a fairly major presence by that time. There wasn't going to be any way to shove the genie back in the bottle.

Answer 7

No; it would've continued on regardless. Constantine's vision seems to be more of an urban legend; it's been said that he saw the chi and the rho in battle.

Who knows? Maybe he did have that vision, I don't know.

Answer 8

No. No major religion has ever been eliminated by military force. We might all be speaking Arabic now, but there would still be Christians.

Answer 9

I think He only mixed the pagan religions together to try to please the people and formed the catholic church, before he started his "church" christanity didn't worship the virgin marry or believe in the Triune Godhead. Study up on it if you don't believe me. He was having so much trouble with the christian church that he decided to please everybody by mixing the pagan and christian church and formed the catholic church. I doubt he even had a dream.

True christianity would have survived because it was annoited from God.

Answer 10

No, the truth always finds its way.