And that if Contsantine hadn't had his historic conversion i 312 A.D., which paved the way for Christianity's spread across Europe, we would still be paying homage to the twelve Lords of Kobol (e.g. Artemis, Apollo, Athena, Zeus, etc.) instead of Jesus?
2007-12-30 17:48:56 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Of course. As an atheist and a history major, I just study religion like I do with politics. I think the main thing that allowed for Christianity to spread and take root so effectively is its universality. Note how other religions that are mostly an exclusive birth-right (i.e. Judaism) fail to gain converts. Christianity was custom tailored by Jesus and the early Church fathers to easliy attract converts. Its all politics, business, and survival of the fittest (just not through divinity). Sorry for the rant, but I ponder this stuff a lot.
2007-12-30 18:05:15 · answer #1 · answered by Wizeguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes!
During those times, it was not only Jesus Christ who was claiming himself God. There were many others like Simon Magus, etc. Also, then, there were many religions and gods the people believed. Some believed in Isis, Mithras (which has a close resemblance to the story of Jesus. isn't that such a coincidence knowing Mithras was worshipped before Jesus), Roamn gods, etc. Some even believed that John the Baptist also became a rival for Christ.
With a powerful Roman at the back, Christianity was imposed (not evangelized) among its empire. So if ever, the Romans had a change of mind and imposed Mithraic belief, I doubt that Christianity would now be the religion with the most believers.
2007-12-30 18:17:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the conversion of Constantine was a two-edged sword. Christianity had survived almost three hundred years despite periods of horrific persecution so it might well have survived longer. Constantine brought in a lot of order and set up the great council at Nicene which was probably good but it also made Christianity attractive to thse who wanted power and the faith has suffered by being associated since with that type of person.
2007-12-30 17:58:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it had less to do with Constantine and more to do with his mother. He didn't seem to be as much of a Christian as she was. I think Christianity helped people think in a more common sense way (of course they had to cross many non-Christian like bridges) and got Europe at least on a road to progress. The true church is still being built and the foundation is always the hardest part of a building. That is why the past has been a rocky road so far.
2007-12-30 18:05:11 · answer #4 · answered by Heart of man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was more than sheer luck. The Christians had to work at it.
By about 400AD the Christians had gained political power in Rome and they immediately set about dismantling the other religions. Loud-mouths were executed, the middle classes were refused employment until they had converted to Christianity, and the hoi-poloi did what they were told. Not surprisingly, within a relatively short time, Christianity was the number one religion in the Roman Empire - and it's never looked back...
2007-12-30 18:59:25 · answer #5 · answered by youngmoigle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people still do pay homage to these Gods, and to other indigeneous European Gods and Goddesses who were not part of either the Greek or Roman pantheons.
I do think it is likely that if Constantine and, later, other rulers, had not promoted Chrisitanity as aggressively (often on pain of death, or at least exile), that it would not have replaced the native European religions to the extent that it has.
2007-12-30 18:02:55 · answer #6 · answered by Jeannette W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people still do pay homage to Greek Gods. But there is no proof that they really walked the earth. There is an abundance that Jesus did. Not just in the Bible either.
2007-12-30 18:34:56 · answer #7 · answered by Steve 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's simply through coincidence that people are these board are Christian. If a few more Hindu kings were more bloodthirsty, this board would be filled with people who
Claim to be filled by the presence of (Insert Hindu God)
Claim they are the Truth. Like that word even means anything in religion
2007-12-30 18:17:25 · answer #8 · answered by Moo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, cuz we'd be able to get on top of Olimpus and see nothing is there. We'd likely be a mixture of atheists and agnostics with a strong flavor of traditional expressions, as in comparing things and people to the gods of old. We do it now anyways, on a lesser scale.
2007-12-30 17:54:32 · answer #9 · answered by Rick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup, that's my opinion too. All the evidence I've seen suggests that Christianity was regarded as a small cult before Constantine.
2007-12-30 18:03:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋