If Christianity hadn't gone to rome?

Question

would it just have remained a small localised religion ?

Answer 1

Brilliant question. The main factor that led to the wide spread growth of Christianity in the Late Roman world was Constantine the Great's conversion in 315. Thereafter, the Church was catapulted from a relatively minor (but significant) position within the Roman Empire to a positon of intellectual and spiritual dominance.

Constantine did not just adopt Christianity because it was in Rome at the time. Scholars agree that while his conversion was genuine, their was some realpolitik involved: Some of which are:

- The Organisation of the Church
No pagan cult could match Christianity's organisation-with its bishops, deacons and its social programme

- Christian Monotheism
Constantine saw monotheism as a means to unite the increasingly fractious empire. At the time the Empire was ruled by a tetrarchy-a system of four rulers. Uniting the empire under one religious must have been appealing to him, as a means of consolidating his power.

At the time of Constantine, the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) was not the primate of the Church. Instead, there were other Cosmopolitans (Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria) who had as much prestige as Rome.

So would Christianity have remained a small localised religion without Rome? No, because even in Constantine's time, the religion was quite widespread. Even Constantine's mother was a Christian (Helena). Furthermore, Christianity was taking the clothes off the other religions of the time because of its message-equality before God and care of the sick, orphaned and widowed.

But would Christianity have risen to prominence so quickly without Constantine? I don't think so.

Answer 2

The first major bishoprics of the early Church were Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople - and Rome. Lyon and Hippo were also pretty big. What happened was that the Roman Empire split in the fourth century, and the Roman Emperor ruled from Constatinople, and the Empire continued in the east for hundreds of years after it had collapsed in the west. When the split became confirmed in the 5th/6th centuries, Rome found itself supreme in the west, and stayed that way even though Italy had no political imprtance any more.
God could have used another means, however. For example, over 30% of world Christianity is now pentecostal, which has expended through the last century without any particular controlling city or centre to the movement.

Answer 3

Christianity was basically spread by the Apostles. Paul travelled in what used to be the Roman Empire. So Christianity would spread wherever the followers of Christ went. Initially Rome was against the religion.
However, making it the official religion in Constantinople, Byzantium, did contribute to its growth. Armenia, for instance, had adopted Christianity earlier, but to no global effect.
On the other hand, the fact that Christianity became the official religion in several countries at various periods of time, indicates that it would not remain a local religion.
So, my answer is no, but Rome did help a lot.

Answer 4

Possibly but the christian religion was still popular before the christening of the emperor Constantine in 337AD despite the persecution of those who believed.
From Archaeological evidence it is apparent that although the religion was by no means large it was certainly wide spread.

Answer 5

If Mohammed hadn't gone from Medina to Mecca. So many ifs. It's all in the past and we have to come to terms with it. No use crying over spilt milk or shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.
If you're Hindu, there may be over 3000 gods, but they are all aspects of the one God.

One God, and my guess he's not too pleased right now. Is it possible that global warming is God's warning?

Sort yourselves out or curtains!

Thankfully I'm an agnostic (with Muslim leanings). Count me out on this one.

Answer 6

After Christ ascended into heaven, Catholics have faith that Peter grew to become into seen the top of the church. He grew to become right into a Jew, and widespread he believed that he would desire to stay in Jerusalem, yet whilst Christianity began to unfold to Antioch and Greece or maybe Rome, he found out that it grew to become into not meant for purely the Jewish human beings, yet for the full international. Rome grew to become into the capital of the civilized international, and it grew to become into desperate that Peter would desire to pass to Rome to foster a extra speedy unfold of Christianity. He grew to alter into the bishop of Rome. that's the identify of all his sucessors. regrettably, because of the fact of specific cultural divisions, and the political impact of the Roman Empire, Christianity chop up into the Western and jap branches ot Catholic and Orthodox.

Answer 7

no worst luck it came popular after the fall of rome in 6ad and the world has been paying for that mistacke eversince

Answer 8

of course, the Roman Empire adopting Christianity as the state religion gave it power and legitimacy, without it it would have frittered away into obscurity.

Answer 9

well probably although there were several sects in christianity that seemed to have disappeared.The dead sea scrolls showed one sect and they didnt even mention the Lord.!!!

Answer 10

perhaps... but do not forget about Saul's crazy antics.