How did Constantine contribute to Christianity?

Answer 1

AnswerCertainly, Constantine was a pagan early in his career - he was closely associated with the worship of the god Apollo. There is a story of Constantine converting when he saw a vision just prior to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge but, not only is this too similar to a previous story in which he saw a vision of Apollo in the sky, this account was not written until many years after the event.

Some say that he converted to Christianity prior to becoming emperor. Others say that he was never really sincere about Christianity, simply seeing Christianity as helping him to achieve imperial objectives. It has also been said that his understanding of Christianity was far from perfect, and that he held both pagan and Christian ideals at the same time.

Answer 2

The Byzantine Empire did not exist at the time of Constantine. Byzantine Empire is a term which had been coined by historians to indicate the eastern part of the Roman Empire after the fall of the western part. The latter fell around 476. Constantine ruled as a sole emperor from 321 to 324. Also note that the people in the eastern part of the Roman Empire after 476 did not know the term Byzantine an called their empire Roman Empire.

Constantine did not make Christianity the unifying religion of the empire. In his days it was still the religion of a small minority of the population of the empire. He supported Christianity, built important Christians churches, promoted Christians in the imperial administration, and convened synods and ecumenical councils to try to arbitrate disputes between rival Christian doctrines. Christianity was not a unified religion in his days.

Christianity became a unifying force under the next emperors, who were Christians. This was done through the suppression of pagan religions which were worshiped by the majority of the population. There were several laws which restricted the pagan practices further and further. Under Theodosius I there was a persecution of the pagans.

Answer 3

Constantine contributed to Christianity by legalizing it.

Answer 4

he proclaimed religious tolerance in the roman empire, not blending beliefs