I think it would have been very different, that's for sure. I belive it would still exist, but it would not be in the form(s) it takes today. Originally Christianity was about sharing power, not taking it ...
2006-12-23 09:39:58
·
answer #1
·
answered by Terri 5
·
1⤊
1⤋
Emperor Constantine did not make Christianity the only religion in the Roman empire. He did force the major branches of Christianity to confront each other and come to a common consensus about what an orthodox Christianity should be about. There was a great deal of disagreement about church doctrines and how they should be applied and their subtile meanings, which was causing havoc and unrest in the various Christian churches throughout the empire, one group often trying to excomunicate the other for what would now be considered trivial matters. Although he was not a baptised Christian, he had a great gift in rhetoric and debate and convinced the recognized church leaders to come to some basic agreements, including what books would and would not be included in the New testiment. This was a big first step, but not the last, in a series of ecumenical councils which have occurred to modern times. Had he not caused Christianity to be a recognized religion it would have been very different than it is today, in how it was practiced and what it represented. He wanted the religion to be a binding force within the empire rather than a devise one. His efforts should be recognized for what they were, not for what some people have assumed they were. The council gave him a great honor and granted him a title making him equal in authority to the Bishops and apostles, a title which was passed onto the Eastern Roman emperors after the western empire imploded on itself and dissolved into many other kingdoms.
2006-12-23 10:02:09
·
answer #2
·
answered by dianehaggart 5
·
0⤊
0⤋
Recent archeology studies of the catacombs in Rome examined about 4 million "graves" that all date from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. (Constantine was 4th century). Of those 4 million tombs, more then 1.5 million were marked with some type of Christian emblem or artifice. Most of those tombs belongs to the rich and "royalty" of Rome. (The poor were usually buried). At appears that even before Constantine issued his edict of tolerants, more than 1/3 of the citizens of Rome were Christians. So even without it being "official", it was overwhelming the other religions of the empire.
Also, Constantine did NOT make Christian the only religion. He merely removed the ban it on. His son would renew that ban, and conduct another major persecution and execution of thousands of Christians. (It was a easy way to clear out political opponents.) It would be Constantine's grandson who would make Christianity the official religion of Rome.
2006-12-23 09:58:32
·
answer #3
·
answered by dewcoons 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
He made it one of the Roman religions. His successor, Julian the apostate, rejected it again from the roman empire. The next successor re-instated it, and made it the official religion.
Until Constantine, Christianity had survived and thrived through the reigns of Nero and Domitian, so I think it would have survived without Constantine. In fact he did not do christianity much of a favour. By making it the "popular religion" he watered it down.
2006-12-23 09:40:12
·
answer #4
·
answered by Mr Ed 7
·
0⤊
1⤋
Considering the fact that God himself made Christianity the ONLY true and complete religion, Constantine could have done anything he wanted to, and God's will would still be done.
2006-12-23 09:56:53
·
answer #5
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
Your question is predicated on the fake pretense that Jesus is a few thing greater suitable than a fictional character invented in the latter area of the 1st century c.e. actuality: There at the instant are not any contemporaneous money owed of Jesus from any of the 40+ historians in the section the place he supposedly lived on the time he supposedly lived there. If somebody with the skill to repair sight to the blind and elevate the lifeless is unworthy of point out, possibilities are high that is because of the fact he never existed. The gospels have been written approximately 70 years after the events supposedly surpassed off via people who could no longer have been alive whilst they surpassed off. the common lifespan became below 40 years at that element and basically the somewhat wealthy have been in a position to deal with to pay for certainly one of those care or existence type mandatory to surpass that variety. in case you think of the disciples have been somewhat wealthy, in line with threat you greater effective flow returned and re-study your fiction. actuality: There at the instant are not any Roman records of Jesus' crucifixion. The Romans have been meticulous checklist keepers. because there at the instant are not any records of Jesus' crucifixion, good judgment follows that it never surpassed off. with out crucifixion, the possibilities of resurrection drop to 0 because of the fact the tale is fiction.
2016-10-28 06:07:28
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
Actually Constantine took the original teachings of Jesus, and misconstrued them for his own Idea. The original teachings of Christ was hidden by the original Christians because they had to go into hiding because they where being killed by the government and others. The teachings where frond and are now available in English with Historical Documentation By Alan Wauters and Rick Wyhe, Called The Gospel of The Nazirenes go to gospelofthenazirenes for complete details on The original teachings of Christ. It this was the main book available we would have few Christians because frankly most people are not looking for truth, they are looking for something to support their nonsense.
2006-12-23 09:43:08
·
answer #7
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
1⤋
Probably not. Although Paul was a strong personality and his preaching had a lot to do with creating Christianity, I don't think it would be the religion it is without the Roman empire's decision to mandate it as official.
2006-12-23 09:40:15
·
answer #8
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
The Christian faith existed for over 300 years before Constantine created the Catholic church, with the help of the bishop of Rome. There were plenty of believers who had been living out their Christian faith, humbly and lovingly, before that.
And there have been believers since that time until today who have not accepted that corrupt churches' demand for conformity. If the bishop of Rome had not had the force of the army to arrest and torture and kill the believers, there would be more Christians today than there are.
2006-12-23 09:47:48
·
answer #9
·
answered by guitar teacher 3
·
1⤊
1⤋
There were so many Pagan converts in the early centuries that did not fully convert,the early church had all ready apostatized before Constantine, he just put the lid on it
2006-12-23 09:48:45
·
answer #10
·
answered by Ibredd 7
·
0⤊
1⤋