2007-10-09 17:25:09 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
refused to show ultimate allegiance to the Romans and their law
refused to acknowledge the divine nature of the Roman emperor
2007-10-10 11:19:59 · answer #1 · answered by yyyyyy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Probably because they refused to worship the god who protected the Emperor. The different emperors would select different gods, and people were expected to worship that god, plus whatever other god or gods they chose. Christians and Jews are forbidden to do this of course, so the Romans would have seen this as disloyal.
This refusal to go along with everyone else was also a problem with other citizens. The Romans were apparently pretty flexible about gods, once people met that one criterion of worshiping the emperor's protector, but the monotheists just wouldn't cooperate.
2007-10-09 17:33:35 · answer #2 · answered by william_byrnes2000 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because early Christians were viewed as a cult, as are any small, but growing religion is viewed by the status queue. The main problem with pre-Constantine Rome was to the extent Christian's worshiped their God. To them, their God and Christ were they're only king and ruler, and to the Roman emperors saw that as treason. Even the Christian mythology reflects such attitudes in the alleged tale of his sentencing, the Jews demanded to Pilate that he must sentence Jesus for his claims of being "King of the Jews" when they asserted their only king was that of Rome. And since early followers of this religion took on that idea, the Romans saw them as directly ignoring the power of the Emperor.
2007-10-09 17:41:55 · answer #3 · answered by Spencer 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My guess is because they did not believe in the Roman's gods, and as such, were less easily controlled by the state sponsored religion. Meant they were a threat since they could not be controlled by the Roman gods.
2007-10-10 02:49:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Christians would not swear allegiance to Caesar nor give up their belief in Jesus Christ as was required by the Roman law. According to Roman law at that time, there was only one ruler and one lord-- Caesar. All others were counterfeit.
The Christians would not denounce Christ and thus were guilty of high treason.
2007-10-09 22:52:05 · answer #5 · answered by talon 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Really with the Romans everything was a power struggle, so many people were viewed as threats. Those with no power were no threat. The fact that Christians were organized and largely united, and thus a potential and growing threat, was what mattered, not the beliefs or practices.
2007-10-09 21:36:36 · answer #6 · answered by SJ 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Christians where a threat to the Roman state and there centralized authoritarian form of government.
2007-10-09 17:28:48 · answer #7 · answered by redlegman64 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because they wouldn't take part in their pagan rituals, which was part of the government (the emperor considered himself a living god).
Christians only worshipped the One True God (Jesus Christ), not the pagan gods and goddesses thad made up the faith of the Roman Empire.
2007-10-09 18:15:38 · answer #8 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
war protesters, sit-inners, freedom riders and marchers were once considered traitors in the US -- Why ? ... I honestly don't know.
2007-10-10 03:56:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because they didn't believe that the emperor was a god. Not believing in such was illegal.
2007-10-10 07:21:46 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋