Christianity: Political Instability In The Roman Empire

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The main factor for the popularity of Christianity was the political instability in the Roman Empire. Christianity ultimately triumphed over paganism because it answered people’s doubts and improved the lives of its adherents in a far more immediate way. One of the most important factors was the doctrine of the future life of the soul, which combined Judeo-Christian beliefs with the Greek notion of the immortality of the soul. The Christian afterlife and salvation included everybody and was open to not only Jews but pagans too; it was for the rich and especially for the poor. This was the first time that a religion focused on social issues such as feeding the poor and healing the sick, this religion professed that, as an adherent, it was …show more content…

Constantine adopted Christianity on the eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 against his rival Maxentius. According to Eusabius, Constatine had a vision of the Chi Rho (initials of Jesus in Greek) , or of the cross , with the words “ under this sign you will conquer”. Constantine decided to take up the sign of Jesus as the symbol for the Roman Army and he won the battle. After securing his reign through conquest, Constantine turned his attention to legislature, he drew up the edict of Milan in 313, which allowed Christians the freedom to practice their religion, this edict is known as the edict of tolerance. Constantine was also very much involved with Christian doctrine, he summoned the council of Nicaea in 325 to reform the church which was being taken over by numerous heresies, this ecumenical council put in place the Nicean Creed; this creed reaffirms the divine nature of Christ and asserts that the father and the son are of the same nature. Constantine cemented a standard for the ruler as answerable to God for the salvation of his realm. The emperor had a duty to maintain doctrine, condemn heresy, and ensure sacred unity within the church. Another pivotal figure for Christianity is the Emperor Theodosius I (The Great) he effectively made Nicean Christianity the official state religion of the Roman

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