during the rise of the church?
2007-05-28 12:40:13 · 18 answers · asked by Demopublican 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For those who claim there are no forced conversions, perhaps you should real a little Mideveal or American Colonial history.
Christianity was indeed spread as much by the sword, if not more, than by how "nice" it sounded.
Still, in some ways that resulted in a couple of positive things. If the Christian faith hadn't more-or-less unified Europe, the invading Muslim armies might have conquered the region. Then where would we be?
2007-05-28 12:57:04 · answer #1 · answered by Scott M 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, Christianity was a fast growing religion before it had the sanction of the Roman Emperors (and later the Popes). As far as I can remember from my Roman history class there was never an actual banning of other faiths in Rome; it would have been impossible as too much of the population was still pagan. Also, Christianity (granted often heretical strains of it) did well beyond the Roman limes in regions like Germany and Ethiopia.
Think about what is says. "When you die you'll be brought back to life in a better place where you live forever - you just gotta believe in this Jesus dude." Most of the pagan religions didn't have quite the same powerful broad-base appeal.
2007-05-28 12:51:02 · answer #2 · answered by Somes J 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think this is putting it the wrong way. Christianity did in fact survive. Did it only survive because of forced conversions and the banning of other faiths? There were probably forced conversions, and the emerging orthodoxy did suppress various paganisms and competing versions of Christianity. But I would suggest that orthodox Christianity survived because it met a wide variety of needs. It appealed to a broad spectrum of Roman (etc.) society.
2007-05-28 12:49:42 · answer #3 · answered by Darrol P 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Probably, Most forced conversions and witch-hunts were done to increase the standing of the accuser in the religious community. Allowing them to seem "holier than thou". So the majority of people in the locallity were probably already christian. The primary reason that poeple converted in ancient Rome and Greece was that the pagan Greek religion was very chaotic. What was good? and Who was favored by the gods? was a question that was impossible to answer. Christianity offered a comforting solution when the chaotic pagans could not. People like to feel comfortable, not confused. Part of it was European arrogance as the best and most advanced people in the world too.
2007-05-28 12:51:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Uhh.. for the first 4 centuries being a Christian could mean a death penalty. Try reading Foxes book of Martyrs sometime. Even a few hundred years ago being a protestant in a Catholic country could get you the death penalty and showed that some had lost the Christian faith AT THAT TIME!
There are no forced conversions now and those that seek the truth are still being saved! C.S. Lewis who wrote Mere Christianity was an atheist, Lee Stroebel that wrote the Case for Christ was an atheist.
"Truth is absolute and knowable and must be searched for, but many will try to hide it, deny it or muddy it." - annon.
2007-05-28 12:52:11 · answer #5 · answered by Pilgrim in the land of the lost 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Christianity will never die, although there may be fewer and fewer true followers. There is really no such thing as a forced conversion. Some people may have felt forced into pretending they were Christians to save their skin but it's doubtful they actually believed.
2007-05-28 12:52:26 · answer #6 · answered by Cee T 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe that every religion is widespread due to conversions. If you look at little, isolated tribes, they don't come up with the Judeo-Christian tradition on their own. Someone has to spread the word. As for believers losing their faith, I think it is easier for someone to stop worshiping than to start.
2007-05-28 12:46:44 · answer #7 · answered by lei 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
YES.though i live in athens for 5 years,last week i went to acropolis for the first time...i was amazed by the size and the elegance of the buildings and realized why it is surrounded by dozens of chapels and churches...
2007-05-28 12:51:33 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
What a lovely thought. And might have kept it to a small cult like religion.
2007-05-28 15:30:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We will never know for sure. But forcing a large segment of the population to believe or die sure did bring it to power.
2007-05-28 12:44:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋