2007-02-09 21:25:06 · 15 answers · asked by GODZILLA 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No. If that hadn't happened, something else would have come along and f*cked things up. Sadly, I guess some things are just destined to be.
2007-02-09 21:42:32 · answer #1 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean if it never became an official religion?
On the one hand it's easy to look around and get frustrated with people who think they are Christians because they're born in a Christian country and as someone training to be a priest in the Anglican church (that is the official state church and a lot of our decisions are controlled in some way by the state - eg Margret Thatcher blocked the appointment of two Arch Bishops of Cantebury because they didn't agree with her political views), believe me I know how frustrating this is.
However the fact that the church is linked to the state has had an enormously good effect too. In the UK Anglican priests have access to most public buildings to pray with people (hospitals, schools, the houses of parliment, etc) - most of which also have an official chaplain who is paid by the institution to take care of the spiritual needs of the people in the organisation. If this was taken seriously by all the priests doing it - it could have a huge effect. We also have the whole of England carved up so that every inch of England is under the care of a parish priest who has a managable amount of people to know personally... again if this was used well it could change the country.
So in conclusion - if it's a bad thing that Constantine "became a Christian" and Christianity became linked to the state and politics, then it is mostly because the church is in a mess and doesn't make the most of the situation.
Hope this helps
Grace x
2007-02-09 21:47:32 · answer #2 · answered by Grace 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Have you ever looked at why Constantine endorsed Christianity (see the poster above me)? Following Constantine, there was only one known case of a person executed for 'heresy' in the Roman Empire (which lasted for 1000 years after Constantine). The problems occured when hordes of half-naked, illiterate barbarian tribes carved up the western half of the Roman Empire and exploited out-dated Roman laws in order to subjugate 85% of the native Roman population to the yoke of papal tyrrany.
2007-02-09 21:34:20 · answer #3 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think Costantine endorsed christianity itself. He was and is a very bitter man who simply refused to be taken back into hell. Most people will say the agreement that if there is a Hell therefore MUST BE A HEAVEN - so if he's fighting with them simply on that basis - I'm not sure you can call it an endorsement. (Think of why people go to the gym, is it because they want to be fit? or simply not be fat?)
He worked for himself and attempted to keep himself - i'm sure in some of the books had a few different themes - not just christinaity.
To conclude. yes the world would be better off as he would be a uber pc comic book hero. he's just a scouser with a fag on - western ideal of lack of faith and possibly a bloody nice bloke.
Why di keanu reeves get the role - constantine's a red head for christ sake!!!
2007-02-09 21:37:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Constantine only added to the Christian take over , which was really achieved over centuries of murder and assimilation ... Constantine himself was buried with 2 silver coins placed above his eyes , not sure as the direction he faced as this was different also as 2 who you worshipped.. Constantine was buried in both a Christian way and the Pagan way ........ Just in case .. And no I dont think it would have made much difference even then ... Perhaps a few years , who knows......
2007-02-09 22:30:51 · answer #5 · answered by Bunge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree w/"Stephen McTowelie".
Plus, despite the horrors, Christianity has a lot to offer.
I think institutionalizing it has hurt it, for sure. But, it did help it to survive. It is not the only group to do great harm as in the Crusades.
Ceasar eliminated a whole tribe/nation of Celts; completely eliminated them. So much for Roman Empire.
I don't know what I would do w/out my faith; and, so much good IS done; just the media focuses on the bad.
Some group would have dominated and then we might not have democracies at all. Just tribes, etc.
Or, Asian culture--then, not all bad.
Hmmmm. That raises a question: w/out Christianity, would Communism ever have developed ???
2007-02-09 21:34:47 · answer #6 · answered by DC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because then there wouldn't have been the huge gulf in the beliefs of differing Christians which has led to human slaughter all in the name of which version of Christianity is the 'true' one. Look at the history of Europe just one big war involing the religion of Christ. With the Papacy ruling large parts of Europe of the centuries and rulers/kings if they had the backing of the Pope could you what they wanted. And the Protestant kings etc were do better siding in England with the Arch Bishop of Canturbury.
So Christianity is a religion of peace! You could have fooled me.
2007-02-09 21:49:32 · answer #7 · answered by aroundworldsports 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The people would have developed another way to worship Christ. Constantine did what he did after much pressure, he didn't not wake up one day, converted. He did it to retain control of an empire, otherwise it would have rolled over the top of him, metaphorically.
2007-02-09 21:31:51 · answer #8 · answered by Terracinese 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A great number of Romans were Christians already. It would have been inevitable. Constantine used it only to reinforce his power.
2007-02-09 21:29:11 · answer #9 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Constantine had no choice. Christianity was too popular.
2007-02-09 21:34:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋