What characterized the relationship between Christians and Roman pagans?

Answer 1

During the reign of Constantine I, Christianity was legalized, and became the official state religion. Constantine himself was Christian. The Edict of Milan legalized Christian practices during his reign, and later he established great Christian cities, such as Constantinople, which is today Istanbul.

Answer 2

Many Christians firmly believe today that until the time of Constantine, Christians faced endless persecution by the Roman authorities. In fact, there were no more than 12 years of official persecution during the three centuries before Emperor Constantine. When Christians were persecuted, it seems that the authorities were really more concerned about the risk to good government of having a state within a state, or a reaction to potentially treasonous actions by some Christians.

Edward Gibbon (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) goes as far as to conclude about the attitude of the emperors to the Christians:

• That a considerable time elapsed before they considered the new sectaries as deserving of the attention of government.
• That in the conviction of any of their subjects who were accused of so very singular a crime, they proceeded with caution and reluctance.
• That they were moderate in the use of punishments; and
• That the afflicted church enjoyed many intervals of peace and tranquility.

Letters written by some of the early Church Fathers to their emperors still exist, and demonstrate an openness and mutual respect that later Christian tradition would deny. Emperor Philip (244-249) was even rumoured to be a Christian, an issue still not decided even today.

Answer 3

The death of Jesus the Christ was not noticed by most persons, Jewish or Roman. The Romans were still the oppressors and relations between the two became increasingly worse. Josephus, an historian who lived in the 1st century A.D., tells of the many small insurrections of the Jews against the Romans until it was all out war ending with the Romans destroying Jerusalem and completely dismantling the temple, dispersing the Jews all over the known world in 70 A.D.

Answer 4

Thorny ones. By meeting in private houses instead of going up to the temples like honest folk, they drew attention to themselves. People who ran private meetings and did things like drinking human blood and eating human flesh confirmed suspicions that they were plotting revolution and binding themselves with sacrilege. They remained under suspicion, however emperor Trajan realised that the cannibalism was symbolic (though they couldn't understand why anyone would want to use such cannibal symbolism), and instructed that they be left alone as long as they confined themselves to religious activity only.

The Letters of Pliny the Younger contain a couple of interesting exchanges between Pliny, governor of Bythinia and Trajan on the subject.

Answer 5

Christianity relates to the roman government by christianity becomeing part of roman government when Consantine became Emperer

In the edict o Milan of 313 co-emeprors Licinius and Constantine I agreed reiterate the toleration of Christianity ordered by the Edict of Galerius in 311 and declare that lands confiscated from the Christians were to be returned and compensation was to be paid. After this the relationship between the Romans state and Christianity was that the state allowed freedom of worship.

In an edict of 380 co-emperors Gratian, Theodosius and Valentinian II declared the Catholic Church the only legitimate imperial religion, making it the state religion.

Catholic Church had a different meaning back then. It referred to the two churches, the Latin Church (later it was named Roman Catholic) and the Orthodox Church which considered themselves a two branches of one church, which was called Catholic Church. Thiwas s the union of the two Churches which subscribed to the Nicene Creed (that Jesus, the son, was equal and at one with the Father and of the same substance) which stood in opposition to other versions of Christianity, such as Arian Christianity. The churches of the Nicene Creed were made state religions and the other creeds were made illegitimate.

Answer 6

Augustus Caesar died in 14 CE, long before the time attributed to the start of Christianity. Thus, there was no relationship between the Roman authorities and Christianity during his reign.

Answer 7

it was not good they put them on the cross becase they did not no jahova

Answer 8

Roman pagans regarded the Christians as a weird, secretive and suspicious religious sect. They also mocked the Christians.