I would like to know of the roman government ever go against Christianity and why. As in did the teachings of Jesus and his apostles/disciples affected the roman government. (made them mad, or maybe they(the roman gov') didn't go with his teachings)
ooh and can you please write a link that i can go to, to find this information.
Thank you so much
2007-06-11 11:01:21 · 10 answers · asked by Marlin 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I got this information from my Latin teacher, so no link, but:
The first emperor to be christened a Christian was Emperor Constantine in the middle ages. He was French, but, despite that ruled over the Holy Roman Empire. Before Constantine, all Roman leaders were polytheists, meaning that they believed in more than one god. As with many things, wierd ideas and fringe religions begin with the poor. In Roman society the poor weren't even represented in the senate. Key note, Rome was a Republic, NOT a Democracy. The rich believed that the gods had blessed them for their faithfulness, and, therefore, wouldn't want to anger the gods, lest they take away what they had given. The poor belived that the gods didn't care for them, and, just maybe this new Christian idea might help them. At first, Rome itself paid little notice to the Christians, leaving the provincial leaders to deal with them, but, similar to religion in the colonial period, many Christians in Rome worshipped in private in cellars and caves and in public pretended to belong to their leaders' religion, which was the only legal religion.
2007-06-11 14:08:02 · answer #1 · answered by Shenanigans Mahone OHooligan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the civic duties of a Roman was veneration of the pantheon of Roman gods. The composition of that pantheon was flexible, and a person could worship some, and ignore others as long as the authority of the gods was acknowledged. It was believed that the continuing security of Rome depended on the good graces of the gods, and that if the gods were annoyed Rome would falter. Worship of the gods by all Romans was a vital part of the state apparatus.
Christians, by rejecting all gods but theirs, threw his system into disarray. Rejecting the existing pantheon was tantamount to being a traitor, and challenged the very foundation of the Roman state. Christianity was treachery and was punished as such.
2007-06-11 14:22:46 · answer #2 · answered by iansand 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They did, beginning with Nero. They threw the Christians to the lions in the circus. Later, other emperors did as well. The idea seems to have been that the Christians despised the gods and that was not good.
Besides, the emperors frequently declared themselves to be gods and wanted the Christians to worship them. The Christians refused. That made the emperors really mad.
Sorry, no link. I learnt this in the books, the old fashion way
2007-06-11 12:25:48 · answer #3 · answered by Dios es amor 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For about 300 years,until the conversion of the Emperor Constantine. The earliest known case was when nero blamed the burning of Rome on Christians and had them hunted down and killed,to the best of the ability of the authorities. Church history attributed Roman suspicions regardings Christians as originating with "court jews" ,i.e. high-ranking jewish traders and administrators with influence in royal circles. The jews reviled Christians as a heretical jewish cult and incited the government against them by accusing them of just about everything.
2007-06-11 11:27:36 · answer #4 · answered by Galahad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some Roman Emperors persecuted Early Christians because they suspected Christians of disloyalty to the Emperor. They did the same to the Jews when they refused to allow statues of the Emperor in the Temple in Jerusalem.
2007-06-11 11:25:21 · answer #5 · answered by Erik Van Thienen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fed Christians to the Lions in the Coliseum
Nero dipped Christians in tar and used them for lamps along city streets
Was tough being a Christian in first century Rome
2007-06-11 11:06:01 · answer #6 · answered by tom4bucs 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, they used to tie Christians to poles in the arena and have wild animals attack them in front of crowds. They killed them for sport. History blames Nero for burning Rome but, Nero blamed the Christians which fueled the hatred of them even more.
2007-06-11 11:13:11 · answer #7 · answered by duke 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No they didn't until Nero blamed them for burning a part of Rome. Rome never persecuted religions as long as they didn't conflict with Roman law. They were very tolerant.
Ck out wickipedia
2007-06-11 11:09:29 · answer #8 · answered by Sophist 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Sure they did, they would kill Christians who would not denounce their faith. That includes women and children.
2007-06-11 11:17:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Follow this link.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nero was crazy Jesus is LORD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero
Nero used to use Christians as torches to light his garden
2007-06-11 11:06:41 · answer #10 · answered by eternalsouljaandson 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋