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Do you think Constantine's conversion to Christianity was a Cause or Effect of it' spread?
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:26 am
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:26 am
Constantine issues the edict of Milan in 313AD once he rose to power after winning the battle of Milvian bridge (which he equally credited Jesus and the Pagan sun god Sol Invictus for his win). However he didn't fully convert to Christianity until on his death bed in 337AD, though he did support the Christian religion both economically and politically during his reign.
Before and during the reign of Constantine the % of Christians in the empire is estimated around 10% (~6 million people). By the end of the 4th century there were closer to 30 million Christians.
My question is, was the huge rise of Christianity in Rome in the 4th century AD a result of the policies and conversion of Constantine, or were the policies and conversion of Constantine a result of the rise of Christianity?
Before and during the reign of Constantine the % of Christians in the empire is estimated around 10% (~6 million people). By the end of the 4th century there were closer to 30 million Christians.
My question is, was the huge rise of Christianity in Rome in the 4th century AD a result of the policies and conversion of Constantine, or were the policies and conversion of Constantine a result of the rise of Christianity?
16
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:26 am to Tiger1242
How high are you?
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:27 am to Tiger1242
quote:
30 million Christians.
That's a lot of sheeple
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:28 am to Tiger1242
quote:
the huge rise of Christianity in Rome in the 4th century AD Was a result of the policies and conversion of Constantine
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:29 am to Tiger1242
quote:
it's
Its*
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:31 am to Tiger1242
It was because of The Buddy Christ...
This post was edited on 12/17/19 at 8:32 am
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:32 am to Tiger1242
There's not going to be an "internet message post" answer to this question, IMHO -- BECAUSE -- you've just posed a fine question to be answered by a history grad student in a Thesis.
You could write a thesis examining both sides of that question and supporting your conclusion.
Good question.
My honest answer: the historical record for these ancient periods is so very scarce that reaching a definitive answer on just about any question is always going to be very very problematical. We have to be honest with ourselves, if we are historians -- until quite recent times, the historical record of events is often too scarce to "know the truth".
You could write a thesis examining both sides of that question and supporting your conclusion.
Good question.
My honest answer: the historical record for these ancient periods is so very scarce that reaching a definitive answer on just about any question is always going to be very very problematical. We have to be honest with ourselves, if we are historians -- until quite recent times, the historical record of events is often too scarce to "know the truth".
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:32 am to Tiger1242
quote:
Tiger1242
Which professor asked you this question?
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:33 am to Clyde
quote:
That's a lot of sheeple
Careful you doing cut yourself with that edge, bro.
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:33 am to Tiger1242
Constantine corrupted Christianity in the name of imperialism
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:34 am to Tiger1242
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:38 am to Clyde
quote:
That's a lot of sheeple
If I offer you Christ and I don’t have my hand out for something in return, where is the bad motive? I’m pulling nothing over your eyes. There is no evil intent. I truly love you only want to offer hope to live again. I have found nothing else in this world to offer forgiveness and resurrection from the dead. By grace through faith.
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:41 am to Clyde
quote:
That's a lot of sheeple
oh so wise and edgy with that well thought out response. There are as many well educated, well reasoned Christians as there are atheists. Hate to burst your little hipster bubble.
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:43 am to Tiger1242
The Archangel Michael coming down to help defeat the Muslims was a big recruiting boost.
This post was edited on 12/17/19 at 9:48 am
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:46 am to Mid Iowa Tiger
quote:
There are as many well educated, well reasoned Christians as there are atheists. Hate to burst your little hipster bubble.
Many times more than atheists
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:47 am to Clyde
quote:
That's a lot of sheeple
Thou may ingest a satchel of Richards sir.
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:49 am to Tiger1242
"In Hoc Signo Vinces"
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:51 am to Tiger1242
In short, Constantine’s move was mostly a political one to keep peace. It did however spread Christianity like wildfire which he did eventually become a fairly devout Christian in his latter years.
Posted on 12/17/19 at 8:57 am to Tiger1242
All I know is Christianity, in its infancy, was a tiny group punishable by death in the Roman Empire. Despite this, it became the world's most-practiced religion. I think that says a lot about its message.
Posted on 12/17/19 at 9:03 am to Tiger1242
What I'm about to say should not be construed as an attack on anyone, much less the many devoutly religious individuals who have studied theology and came to honest, informed decisions concerning their beliefs. With that said...
The average member of the unwashed masses gives very little individual thought to, well, just about anything. Their religious beliefs included. That's why, statistically speaking, you can estimate someone's religious beliefs fairly accurately if you simply know what geographic region of the world they were raised in. If you add the data point of the religion of their parents, your accuracy will rise even further.
I say all of that to say that while I believe it was an effect in as much as Christianity needed to reach a certain critical mass before he he viewed even flirting with Christianity as politically feasible, I believe it caused exponentially more conversion in the future than had already occurred.
The average member of the unwashed masses gives very little individual thought to, well, just about anything. Their religious beliefs included. That's why, statistically speaking, you can estimate someone's religious beliefs fairly accurately if you simply know what geographic region of the world they were raised in. If you add the data point of the religion of their parents, your accuracy will rise even further.
I say all of that to say that while I believe it was an effect in as much as Christianity needed to reach a certain critical mass before he he viewed even flirting with Christianity as politically feasible, I believe it caused exponentially more conversion in the future than had already occurred.
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