Why did Christianity appeal to the people of the Roman Empire?

Answer 1

Sorry to see all the cynics come out. The fact is Christianity appealed to quite a number of Romans BEFORE Constantine's conversion, and I assume that --and not all the talk about 'forced conversions' -- is what you are interested in.

Can't give a complete answer here, but a couple of things to consider:

1) in the later centuries of the empire a ever larger part of the Roman population consisted of SLAVES (one of thosethings its champions often seem to forget)... Christianity had a strong egalitarian element (cf. Paul's "in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile, no male or female, no slave or free") which had an appeal to this part of society

2) the "Christian COMMUNITY" really WAS one.. . where people who were ignored in their own societies found a home and help in times of need. In particular, the Christian community, taking its faith seriously, took care of the destitute. One particularly striking case was during a plague -- when everyone else was fleeing for their lives, Christians stayed to help the sick and dying, at the risk of their own lives. Survivors who witnessed this were overwhelmed by this dedication and love, and open to the Christian message.

Rodney Stark's excellent book *The Rise of Christianity* details this story and others that may help with your question. (He has some surprises too... like evidence that many who embraced this new faith were fairly well-to-do.)

I don't recall whether Stark deals with this, but it is also significant that there were Jewish synagogues "in every city", converts to Judaism throughout the empire, and many who respected the devotion of these people. This was the community to which Paul and his associates first appealed (he always went to teach and preach in the synagogues first when they would have him). Thus there had been significant preparation for the Christian message across the empire. (Note how the beginning of the conversion of Gentiles begins with folks like the "God-fearer" Cornelius, a Roman already following the God of the Jews.)

Answer 2

Well shortly after the death of Jesus his followers started making converts outside of Judea (Israel). These followers of Christ eventually made it to places throughout the Roman Empire. At first the Romans were opposed to Christianity because it opposed their religious beliefs, lifestyles and undermined Caesar. Then in the early 300's AD the Emperor Constantine became a Christian. This lead to the later change of the Roman religious system to Christianity and the Catholic Religion evolved from this. The rest, as you say, is history.

Answer 3

It did not appeal to the early leaders of the Roman Empire. You need to read the writings of Roman historians such as Tacticus and Pliny the Younger. Including the emperor Nero. They viewed Christianity as superstition and killed many Christians.

It was accepted later on.

Some quotes from them
http://formerthings.com/jesuschrist.htm

Answer 4

Well it didn't appeal to many people at first,it appealed mostly to the poor. It wasn't until hundreds of years after Christ's death,that Christianity even established itself as a religion. It branched of from Judaism. Most of the Romans were opposed to the thought of christianity. It appealed to wives of men in power. Constatine converted on his death bed,but it wasn't until 392 b.c.e(392 is correct not sure about bce), Emperor Theodosius declared christianity the official religion of the Roman empire. It was then that people could openly embrace th religion,and for those who didn't like it,it was forced upon them.

Answer 5

I truth, it didn't. Until the rule of Constantine, Christians were persecuted and tortured for there faith. When he became ruler though, he granted political protection for the Christians ( Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. ) . We can not know for sure if it was a true conversion, or simply a political maneuver, but however, this allowed the Christians to walk without fear or persecution. It was not until the rule of Theodosius the first that Christianity was declared the the "official" religion of the Roman empire- once again this was probably a political maneuver. People were given the choice of Christianity or death....of course they chose Christianity.

Answer 6

Believers in Christianity spread the faith to Rome not long after Christianity started. The people of Rome liked the beliefs of Christianity, like its message of love, Jesus' acceptance of anyone and everyone, and the promise of eternal life. Missionaries, like the Apostle Paul, added ideas from Greek philosophers to Jesus' teachings, which appealed to the educated Romans. The persecution of Christians even converted some people. Seeing how Christians were so willing to die for their Lord and Saviour impressed many citizens. Constantine, the emperor who granted freedom of religion to all Romans, was influenced by his mother, who was a devout believer. Theodosius later made Christianity the official Roman religion.

Answer 7

The answer pertaining to the K12 question is
A. Christianity offered comfort to people in troubled times.
B.Christianity gave people hope for a better future--at least in the afterlife.
C.Jesus' teachings made many Romans feel their life had meaning.

D.Only Christians were allowed to hold offices in the government. This is a wrong answer don't check it!

Answer 8

   The Roman Emperor Constantine made christianity the official religion of The Roman Empire. The cross was becoming popular and it was he who encouraged tolerating it being worn saying something like:-"Instead of if being a symbol of ?crucifiction, let it be a symbol for hope..."
   At Constantinople, he called in various leaders of all the christian divisions and tried to "settle" what should be "doctrine" and various debatable issues among them such as whether if Jesus was human or divine etc...

Answer 9

Right - I think it appealed to a Roman Emperor and thus it was thrust upon the people. It appealed to Constantine because of his own personal beliefs.

Peace!

Answer 10

MY guess is that people eventually became disgusted with their own corruption and Rome was rife with it.

They probably began to see how depraved and sick the Roman society really was.They were a copycat society
of the Greek Civilization but were unable
to realize the more philosophical tenents
of what the Greeks were going for and so
they devolved instead into this numbed out consumerist mentality combined with a lust for conquest.They just started to become a pain in the *** to everyone eventually and it just dissolved.