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How could someone that didn't convert to Christianity until his deathbed spread the "belief" that G-d, "the son", and "the holy ghost" were one-in-the-same?

2007-04-08 16:49:46 · 9 answers · asked by Furibundus 6 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

9 answers

Well, I’m an atheist, but I don’t doubt Constantine’s sincerity over Christianity. He did not convert on his death bed, but he was baptized on his death bed (common practice in those days). He converted to Christianity as a young man after he became emperor. He was not the most ethical of people in my opinion in the way he went about turning Rome to Christianity.

This is like those darn Christians that say Darwin converted on his death bed (he didn’t).

2007-04-08 16:55:01 · answer #1 · answered by A 6 · 0 0

Well when Constantine defeated Emperor Licinius in 323 AD he ended the persecutions against the Christian church. Shortly afterwards Christians faced a trouble from within: the Arian controversy began and threatened to divide the church. The problem began in Alexandria, it started as a debate between the bishop Alexander and the presbyter (pastor, or priest) Arius. Arius proposed that if the Father begat the Son, the latter must have had a beginning, that there was a time when he was not, and that his substance was from nothing like the rest of creation. The Council of Nicea, a gathering similar to the one described in Acts 15:4-22, condemned the beliefs of Arius and wrote the first version of the now famous creed proclaiming that the Son was "one in being with the Father" by use of the Greek "homoousius." or "consubstantial" meaning "of one substance. The bishops assembled at Nicea were careful to explain how they used the word, and what it meant. This is because it had been misused by Paul of Samosta. Regarding this unorthodox usage, St. Hilary and St. Basil say that it was said to be "unfit to describe the relation between the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit" at a council that met in Antioch. Apparently Paul of Samosta applied the word in a manner that implied division of nature, as several coins are from the same metal.

2007-04-08 17:17:45 · answer #2 · answered by Niguayona 4 · 0 0

Constantine used the popularity of Christianity* to unify his political power. It had nothing to do with religioin or real Christianity. He announced his version of Christianity as being not only legalized, but the official religion of the Roman empire. He then went on to make laws that outlawed many of the apostolic practices of real Christianity (such as keeping the 7th day Sabbath) and gave Christian names to the old pagan feasts (i.e. the Saturnalia- the birth of The Sun became "Christmas- the birth of the Son, etc,) in order entice as many people into "the church" as possible- which culturally united his kingdom.

[*= Christianity was gaining in public opinion- as the more it was persecuted, the more it grew and prospered. Constantine virtually destroyed real Christianity by legalizing it and then controlling it and changing its' definitions- replacing it with a cheap immitation, that would appeal to the masses]

2007-04-08 17:02:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity was taught by Jesus. Constantine had nothing to do with it. Christians always believed in one God which is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One only has to read the Bible to see this fact. The Da Vinci Code is a lie.
.

2007-04-08 17:01:51 · answer #4 · answered by Life 2 · 1 1

~First of all, your hypothesis is erroneous - particularly as to the timing of the conversion. Second, what's the big deal: look at all the converts in prison. Ask any "born again" - the spirit can move you any time it is convenient for you. (Hey, the holy ghost descended on Mary and she wasn't even christian.)

2007-04-08 16:55:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2 0

He didn't believe they were one in the same. That belief is really new like the last 50 years.
They used to believe that Jesus was the son of God.

Just goes to show how even Christians fudge their beliefs.

2007-04-08 16:54:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

Assumptive conclusion. Can you read the mind of Constantine? Your dilemna is the explosion of a " mindless aburdity" throughout Europe and the entire world in our world history.

Think of the egg. Shell.......Yolk and albumin.

2007-04-08 17:14:50 · answer #7 · answered by Thomas Paine 5 · 0 0

well after getting the priests to take out the concept of reincarnation, it would be a very effective teaching to scare people into line.

remember, Christianity supported reincarnation before that.

2007-04-08 16:54:41 · answer #8 · answered by RW 6 · 1 0

Archie Bunker's son said it.

2007-04-08 17:06:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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