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Was it the official policy of the Roman Empire to persecute Christians?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
There have been references to several persecution of Christians, but there are official records of only four of them. It is thought that the previous ones were mild, short lived and restricted to the Roman bureaucracy. The first documented persecution was by the emperor Maximinus Thrax. This targeted the clergy.
In 250 the emperor Decius (reigned 249-251) issued an edict which ordered the Christians to perform sacrifices to the Roman gods before an official who then issued a certificate which confirmed the performance of the sacrifice. It was the first time that the Christians faced a law which in their eyes asked them to betray their faith. Non compliance meant death. Many refused as were executed, some apostasised (disaffiliated from the faith). The aim of the edict was to test loyalty to the empire as Roman religion was seen as part of the Roman state.
Under the brief rule of the next two emperors Gallus (two years) and Aemilianus (three months) the edict was not repealed. Valerian (reigned 253-59) issued two orders. In the first one the Christian clergy had to perform sacrifices and the Christians were forbidden to hold meetings in cemeteries.. In the other one the Christian high clergy was to be executed. Christian senators and knights were to be stripped of their titles and property and executed if they refused to perform sacrifices. Officials in the emperor' staff who refused to preform sacrifices were to be reduced to slavery. The persecution was ended in 260 by an Edict of Toleration by (emperor) Gallienus.
The worse persecution was the Great Persecution started by Diocletian in 303. The first edict of this persecution ordered the destruction of Christian scriptures and places of worship, forbade gatherings for worship and scrapped the Christian's right to petition the courts. The second edict ordered the imprisonment of the Christian clergy and that they had to perform sacrifices. The third edict declared an amnesty for the imprisoned clergy to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Diocletian's reign. The prisons could not cope with the number of priests. The fourth edict ordered that everyone in the empire, including children (Christians and pagans) had to perform collective sacrifices in public spaces. Refusal was punished with death. The persecution caused too much instability and the Edict of Toleration by (emperor) Galerius decreed its end in 311.
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∙ 10y ago
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If the Romans were tolerant of all religions why then did they persecute the Christians?
If the Romans persecuted Christians, then they weren't tolerant of all religions! The Roman policy during the development of the empire was to tolerate the religion of the subjugated peoples and to avoid giving offense where possible. Christianity became a notable exception to this policy for a number of reasons.Firstly, the Christians would not bow to the state-sanctioned gods and importantly they would not worship the emperor. Secondly, the Christians would not then attend the state-sanctioned feasts to the gods which they regarded as idolatrous. For these and other reasons they were regarded with suspicion and possibly as being subversive to the state although they were otherwise good citizens. Thus, the policy regarding 'religious tolerance' changed since this particular religion was also becoming more widespread and was also seen somewhat differently from other religions which were more inclusive.
Why would Constantine change Rome's policy towards christians?
Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.
Why we're early Christians considered traitors to the roman empire?
They were not. It is often thought they were victims of hostile treatment because they refused to believe in the Roman polytheism and turned instead to (Jewish) Monotheism. That is however not the case. The Roman Empire was very tolerant towards other religions and was very tolerant towards Christianity as well. It has been established by modern historians that for almost all of the first 400 years of its existence, Christians were mostly left at peace and could hold any job or office without problem. It helped that in the early centuries, Christianity was seen as mostly 'a religion for women and slaves' and consequently not as any real threat to the Roman Empire's fabric or authority.Only the emperor Nero - looking for scapegoats after the great fire of Rome - and later, the emperor Diocletian instituted an official policy against Christians for several years and had quite a number of Christians killed. Later Christian writers have probably grossly overestimated the number of actual victims because it made an edifying story on how early Christians had kept their faith and made martyrs and saints of themselves in the face of massive and cruel persecution.That is not to say that early Christians were always completely free from persecution and harassment. Roman religious ceremonies were always litterally out in the open, and Christian ceremonies were inside and only accessible to church members. That often caused others to think that Christians must have something to hide, either demonic or otherwise unspeakable rituals, or the subversive nature of those meetings to the State or community.As a result persecution did occur on a local or regional level, not as a sesult of official policy but as a result of local autorities' prejudices. And Christians were killed or banned as a result of local trials.But on the whole, Christians were allowed to go about their business in peace and after a few hundred years saw their religion become the Roman Empire's official State religion.
How did Augustus policy shape the Rome Empire?
He didn't.
What did the song dynasty adopt as its official policy?
die
Did most roman emperors persecute and kill Christians?
The Great Persecution of Christians began under Emperor Diocletian from 303 and lasted until 311 in the eastern empire, but only until 305 in the west. Yet it is the western empire that eventually failed in 476 CE. Some say that although the empire was already in decline, Constantine hastened that decline. However there is no evidence that Constantine became emperor as a result of the Great Persecution. Nor is there any evidence that the unsustainable financial patronage that he gave to Christianity was a direct response to the Great Persecution. The one tenuous link between the persecution of Christians and the fall of the western empire is that the policy of persecution and the culture of book burning that took place under the Christian emperors might have been a robust response to the period known as the Great Persecution, since these factors contributed to the advent of the Dark Ages. Apart from this, it is difficult to find any link between the persecution of Christians and the failure of the Roman Empire.
If the Romans were tolerant of all religions why then did they persecute the Christians?
If the Romans persecuted Christians, then they weren't tolerant of all religions! The Roman policy during the development of the empire was to tolerate the religion of the subjugated peoples and to avoid giving offense where possible. Christianity became a notable exception to this policy for a number of reasons.Firstly, the Christians would not bow to the state-sanctioned gods and importantly they would not worship the emperor. Secondly, the Christians would not then attend the state-sanctioned feasts to the gods which they regarded as idolatrous. For these and other reasons they were regarded with suspicion and possibly as being subversive to the state although they were otherwise good citizens. Thus, the policy regarding 'religious tolerance' changed since this particular religion was also becoming more widespread and was also seen somewhat differently from other religions which were more inclusive.
Why would Constantine change Rome's policy towards christians?
Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.Constantine changed Rome's policy towards the Christians because he needed their support as by his time the Christians were numerous and causing unrest.
What is the definition of imperial policy?
a policy to do with an empire.
How did the Romans deal with new religions in the empire?
Generally the Romans continued with their policy of religious tolerance. There were persecutions of the Christians. However, these were on and off and there was only one large scale persecution.
What were the ottomans policy concerning other religions?
The Ottomans implemented a policy known as millet system, which allowed for religious autonomy and self-governance for non-Muslim communities like Christians and Jews. This policy helped maintain diversity and stability within the empire by granting certain rights and freedoms to these religious groups. However, while Christians and Jews were allowed to practice their faith and have their own legal systems, they were subject to some restrictions and extra taxes.
Policy of taking colonies and building an empire?
A policy of taking colonies and building an empire is known as imperialism. An example of imperialism would be the former British Empire.
Was Warren G. Harding a good president as chief domestic policy official and as chief foreign policy official?
Warren G. Harding - Domestic Policy
Why we're early Christians considered traitors to the roman empire?
They were not. It is often thought they were victims of hostile treatment because they refused to believe in the Roman polytheism and turned instead to (Jewish) Monotheism. That is however not the case. The Roman Empire was very tolerant towards other religions and was very tolerant towards Christianity as well. It has been established by modern historians that for almost all of the first 400 years of its existence, Christians were mostly left at peace and could hold any job or office without problem. It helped that in the early centuries, Christianity was seen as mostly 'a religion for women and slaves' and consequently not as any real threat to the Roman Empire's fabric or authority.Only the emperor Nero - looking for scapegoats after the great fire of Rome - and later, the emperor Diocletian instituted an official policy against Christians for several years and had quite a number of Christians killed. Later Christian writers have probably grossly overestimated the number of actual victims because it made an edifying story on how early Christians had kept their faith and made martyrs and saints of themselves in the face of massive and cruel persecution.That is not to say that early Christians were always completely free from persecution and harassment. Roman religious ceremonies were always litterally out in the open, and Christian ceremonies were inside and only accessible to church members. That often caused others to think that Christians must have something to hide, either demonic or otherwise unspeakable rituals, or the subversive nature of those meetings to the State or community.As a result persecution did occur on a local or regional level, not as a sesult of official policy but as a result of local autorities' prejudices. And Christians were killed or banned as a result of local trials.But on the whole, Christians were allowed to go about their business in peace and after a few hundred years saw their religion become the Roman Empire's official State religion.
What was romes policy toward most of the religions in the empire?
Rome had a policy of tolerance toward most of the religions or forms of worship in the empire.
Which Persian Empire started the live and let live policy?
The Achaaemenid Empire.
Why was the Edict of Milan significant?
The Edict of Milan, issued in AD 313 by Roman Emperors Constantine and Licinius, granted religious tolerance to Christians within the Roman Empire. This edict signified a turning point in Roman policy towards Christianity and marked the beginning of official recognition and acceptance of the Christian faith. It allowed Christians to practice their religion openly without fear of persecution, leading to the eventual establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire under Constantine.
