The Spread Of Early Christianity

But neither human resourcefulness nor the emperor’s largesse nor appeasement of the gods could stop belief in the nasty rumor that an order had been given for the fire. To dispel the gossip Nero therefore found culprits on whom he inflicted the most exotic punishments. These were people hated for their shameful offences whom the common people called Christians. The man who gave them their name, Christus, had been executed

From the third to the fourth century, the Roman Empire witnessed a widespread attempt to stop the spread of Christianity. Initially, leaders of the church were predominately targeted, but later anyone admitting to Christianity became a target. The persecutions hit a climax during Diocletian’s reign. These persecutions actually helped the spread of Christianity by glorifying Christians and beginning a tradition of martyrdom that shaped the Church, and the strength that Christians displayed shows that the persecutions could not have possible stopped the spread of Christianity.

• Refers to rapid spread of Christianity among all classes of people, as well as Roman citizens that are sent to Rome for trial. “They have high ethical standards and if they repeatedly admit they honor Christ as God they are executed”.

Factors Which Led to the Spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire Christianity was not born in a vacumn. There were many social, geographical, historical and religious issues prevailing at the time of Christ and all of which were favorable to the spread of Christianity. Geograpicly, Christianity came into being in the Meditation world, the largest of the various centers of civilization at that time. Israel stands almost central to the five continents, dividing the east and west.

In contrast to the persecution experienced by early Christian followers, Christianity today does not experience the level of outward persecution. Christianity is practiced in an atmosphere nearly void of violence. It was not until the reign of Constantine when Christians were authorized to practice their chosen faith. The “Ediet of Milan”(313 A.D.), gave official recognition to the Christian faith, thus ending persecution within the Roman Empire. Before Constantine’s rule, there were many rulers eager to drive out the Christians. The Emperor Trajan (98-117 A.D.) established the first official policy relating to Christians and how they should be dealt with. Diocletion and the Apologists were the last of the persecutors in this era before Constantine. This marked the end of open persecution

Religion has had a severe influence on society and by looking at the diverse attitudes that Christians employed regarding their religion through time one is likely to observe that many individuals who interpret religion erroneously are likely to put across hostile behavior toward innocent individuals. History has seen several Christians who stood up to mainstream religious thinking and who lobbied in regard to alternative methods of being religious. The cases of Margery Kempe and Martin Luther are two of the most notable examples of Christians who dared to put across their personal beliefs during a time when the Church harshly criticized and oppressed individuals like them.

In this short extract, the hatred in the lines radiates off the page. The reader is given a clear picture of how Racial discrimination was so evident in those days. The hostility and hatred between Christians and Jews is very well presented and written. It allows the reader to further understand how life was back then and how it may or may not have changed. The author’s use of language and literary devices was cleverly used to show the reader what he was trying to

Christians have been persecuted around the world for their faith during varying periods of time since the birth of the religion. Even today there are stories of Christians being killed or beaten severely at the hands of Hindu extremists in India or in places like China and North Korea. Yet Christianity thrives as the world’s largest religion. Persecution of Christians was especially brutal and widespread during the fourth century in the Roman Empire. Christians were tortured until they denied Christ or killed if they refused, their possessions, houses and buildings were confiscated and they were forced to observe pagan sacrificial traditions. Constantine the Great’s rise to power brought about tremendous change in Roman attitudes and laws from absolutely destroying Christians to accepting, protecting and even supporting the furthering of Christianity.

Nero was said to be one of the most cruel roman emperors of all time. Some of the ways he persecuted Christians was by nailing them to a cross to bleed to death, and had meat tied to them and releasing wild beast in the Colosseum for amusement. The Romans also tied the Christians to wooden post and lit them on fire for the use of torches. Later on in 112 AD a Roman Governor called Pliny the Younger was sent to Rome by the emperor Trajan. While Pliny the Younger was visiting Rome he ran into some Christians and had a talk with them. After he talked to some of the Christians he sent a letter saying that he had ordered for more Christians to be persecuted. But he had no idea of what to do with the people who were no longer Christians and asked Trajin for his thoughts on the whole thing. Trajin responded by saying that if the Christians recanted and worshiped the roman gods they would be set free. But if they didn’t they would continue to be persecuted and so it

The letter opens with two sections addressing the follies of both Paganism and Judaism. It discusses their outrageous customs and rites, and he does not continue in depth or spend time discussing further because, “if the above considerations are not enough for anybody, I [he] see[s] no point in pursuing the subject any further.” He concludes both by boasting of Christian superiority in juxtaposition of these two absurd religions. In this way, he refutes a large number of arguments against Christianity by declaring Christian rationality in apposition of the delusional religions.

The overall characteristic that it shown about Christians is that they are barbaric and backward. Unlike the Christian source, it doesn’t include much vicious language and focuses on culture rather than religion. The first part of the text describes a doctor witnessing the medical practices of the Christians. You get the opinion that the methods they are using are out-dated and dangerous. For example the Frankish physician “peeled off the skin… until the bone of the skull was exposed and rubbed it with salt. The women expired instantly”. Another characteristic that is expressed through this text is that they are cold hearted and have a lack of respect. The text describes a man finding his wife sleeping around; he barely acknowledges it giving the feeling that the man is passionless. This subtly characterises Christians. The intended audience for this would have been educated Muslims. It would help explain the thinking behind the Christians taking over their land as they are just

Mediaeval Christians were educated in a culture derived from antiquity. They learned to admire the heroes of ancient Rome and Greece, and their great poets and philosophers. Lucretia, Regulus, Cato, Virgil and Aristotle, for example, seemed obviously to have been virtuous people. But Christian doctrine appeared to go against this conclusion: all people are affected by Original Sin, in such a way that they cannot act well consistently, and so be virtuous, without divine assistance. The route to this divine assistance was through faith – precisely what these pagans lacked. Moreover, if such pagans were genuinely virtuous, then it would be unjust for God to damn them, and yet there seemed to be biblical warrant that no one without faith is saved. This, in outline, is the problem that pagans posed to Mediaeval Christian thinkers.

As Christianity was spread throughout Rome, people began to question the teachings of Jesus. Out of fear, officials arrested and killed a multitude of Christians as a result. The everyday plebeian became impressed with these people dying for a belief. Although persecutions became more common, the number of Christians stayed the same and maybe even grew because of the influx of polytheistic Romans converting to the monotheistic religion of Christianity. People were converting quicker than they were being killed off because of the likeable teachings of love, the bravery of these people dying because of what they believed in, and their appealing message to those not in the affluent classes.

The single most important aspect of European empires, beginning just prior to the fall of Rome, is the spread of Christianity to all areas of the continent in as little as a few hundred years. Many theologians state that Christianities spread is the indirect influence of God and the adoration of people to one true faith. Though it is true that Christianity has brought about people that even atheists could call saints, it is unquestionable that Christianity was so monumental because it united larger groups of people and its spread is contributed to adherence to local customs and its lack of new ideas in comparison to other religions of the day.

cut up like meat-the procedure at Alexandria” (269). He makes the case that the Church leaders who