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What might have happened if Constantine had not become a Christian?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
By the time of Emperor Constantine, Christianity probably held the allegiance of around one tenth of the population of the Roman Empire. The faith had suffered a few short years of persecution under Diocletian, but following the Edict of Toleration, Christianity was free to continue to grow. We can only speculate what might have happened if Constantine had not become a Christian, but the following suggestions are based on history as it happened:-
Christianity would probably not have achieved the total domination of the empire that became possible under Christian emperors and would more likely have developed into the tolerant and ethical religion that Nestorian Christianity had become in foreign lands to the east of the Empire - where it achieved much success before the arrival of Islam. Christianity might have remained more diverse, without the persecution of Gnostic Christians, which quickly resulted in their total disappearance in the western Empire. The destruction of important libraries carried out by Christian mobs, along with the loss of irreplaceable ancient texts, would have been avoided.
Mithraism would have slowly died out for reasons unrelated to persecution. The pagan Graeco-Roman state religion might well have evolved but also diminished, to become a minority religion. On the other hand, the mystery religions would probably have thrived.
Without the substantial state funding provided to the Church, Roman state finances would have been better placed, although the decline and fall of the Roman Empire was probably inevitable. Education and technology might have progressed to a far greater extent than it did in a tightly controlled Christian world.
The superstition of the Middle Ages might never have occurred, and the witch hunts and burning of innocent women would not be in our history.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
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Constantine became the Roman Empire's a last non-Christian sailor b first Christian emperor c greatest persecutor of Christians d sole defender of Islam?
The closest answer is: b first Christian emperor. There is some evidence that Emperor Philip (244-249) might have been a Christian some seventy years before the time of Emperor Constantine.
Did Constantine's decisions as emperor help or hinder the church?
Emperor Constantine was arguably one of the two or three most important people in the success of the Christian Church. Without his support, it is possible that Christianity might never have become the dominant religion of the Roman empire. It is even possible that, but for his support for Christianity and his persecution of the pagan temples, Christianity might have gradually faded away, as people lost interest in religion.
Why did Constantine declare Christianity legal?
Constantine's Edict of Milan in 312 proclaimed universal religious freedom in the Roman Empire. In 313, Constantine ordered that anyone who had confiscated property from the Christian Church during the persecutions of the previous decades must return it immediately to the same churches and pay compensation for any damages. But this only applied to the largest and best organised Christian group, who had adopted the term "Catholic" - it did not apply to other Christian groups that followed Gnostic Christianity. Constantine had family connections to the Christian Church but, more importantly, he saw orthodox Christianity as serving his interests as a uniting force in the Empire.
What might have been Constantine's interest in the Church?
It seems likely that Constantine was genuinely a Christian, although he may not have really understood what the faith involved. Certainly his mother converted to Christianity and henceforth can only be described as a religious fanatic. His sons and successors were also uncompromising Christians. Some say that Constantine's original and perhaps strongest interest in Christianity is that he saw it as a force for unifying and controlling the empire.
Why was Constantine the Great so famous?
Constantine the Great was famous because he was the first Christian emperor of Rome. It was he who influenced the change in faith from the old gods to Christianity in Rome. The epithet "the Great" was added to his name by Christians because he had provided so much financial and imperial support for their faith. The pagans refused to use this epithet because it was he who began the long persecution of the pagan religion. Some years after the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine declared that he had seen a sign in the sky, assuring him of victory under the Christian God. The Christian historian, Eusebius, recorded his assertion to this effect nearly a quarter of a century later, but even he believed that the emperor was not altogether telling the truth about his vision.
Constantine became the Roman Empire's a last non-Christian sailor b first Christian emperor c greatest persecutor of Christians d sole defender of Islam?
The closest answer is: b first Christian emperor. There is some evidence that Emperor Philip (244-249) might have been a Christian some seventy years before the time of Emperor Constantine.
Did Constantine's decisions as emperor help or hinder the church?
Emperor Constantine was arguably one of the two or three most important people in the success of the Christian Church. Without his support, it is possible that Christianity might never have become the dominant religion of the Roman empire. It is even possible that, but for his support for Christianity and his persecution of the pagan temples, Christianity might have gradually faded away, as people lost interest in religion.
What did Constantine believe that the Christian God had done for him?
A:Eusebius records that some years after Constantine's victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine said that he had seen a vision of a cross in the sky and had been promised victory in the battle. This account is a close copy of a similar vision Constantine had previously received from the god Apollo, casting doubt on Constantine's sincerity. Eusebius himself seems to think that Constantine might not have been entirely truthful in his account.
What is the significance of the conversion of Emperor Constantine in AD 312 and its implication for the development of the Church?
A:Emperor Constantine gave the Catholic-Orthodox Christian Church state patronage and began the long persecution of the pagan temples, thus ensuring the eventual total domination of the Christian Church. Without Constantine, Christianity might never have become the sole significant religion of empire. He supported the one branch of Christianity, but suppressed the Gnostic Christians, so that this branch went into rapid decline, especially in the west. Constantine also called the Council of Nicaea in order to establish the doctrines and practices of Christianity and attempt to achieve some measure of unity in the Church.
What were the circumstances that led to the emergence of Christianity as a world religion?
Without Constantine's decision to adopt Christianity as the religion of empire, Christianity might have remained a minor religion in the Roman Empire. Without Constantine being followed by ruthless Christian successors as emperors, his establishment of Christianity in a favoured position in the empire could have fallen away, as former pagans who became Christians for political and financial advantage returned to their traditional faiths. It was the dynastic succession of Constantine that provided the circumstances for Christianity to become a world religion.
Why did Constantine declare Christianity legal?
Constantine's Edict of Milan in 312 proclaimed universal religious freedom in the Roman Empire. In 313, Constantine ordered that anyone who had confiscated property from the Christian Church during the persecutions of the previous decades must return it immediately to the same churches and pay compensation for any damages. But this only applied to the largest and best organised Christian group, who had adopted the term "Catholic" - it did not apply to other Christian groups that followed Gnostic Christianity. Constantine had family connections to the Christian Church but, more importantly, he saw orthodox Christianity as serving his interests as a uniting force in the Empire.
Was Constantine a Christian emperor of Rome?
yes, he encouraged it upon the empire.another answerIt has never been fully established whether he was a Christian. There are many reasons to suspect that it might have been more related to politics than genuine convictions regarding the Christain faith.
What might have been Constantine's interest in the Church?
It seems likely that Constantine was genuinely a Christian, although he may not have really understood what the faith involved. Certainly his mother converted to Christianity and henceforth can only be described as a religious fanatic. His sons and successors were also uncompromising Christians. Some say that Constantine's original and perhaps strongest interest in Christianity is that he saw it as a force for unifying and controlling the empire.
Who was the empress of the Byzantine Empire?
the empress you might be looking for might be theadora, who ruled with Justinian after Constantine.
How did Constantine become christian?
Apparently Emperor Constantine saw a flaming cross on the battlefield and believed...Her mother Helena was a christian, she was very close to her only son Constantine, who had a deep regard and affection for her.Posible he become a crhistian because of her mother, the most important event that came out of this conversion was the stablishment of freedom of religion in the roman impire.The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by emperors Constantine and Licinius, that proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire."When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I, Licinius Augustus, fortunately met near Mediolanurn (Milan), and were considering everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many, those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity ought certainly to be made first, so that we might grant to the Christians and others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred"This freedom is the base of the western civilization and the constitution of the United States.Her mother Helena was a christian, she was very close to her only son Constantine, who had a deep regard and affection for her.Posible he become a crhistian because of her mother, the most important event that came out of this conversion was the stablishment of freedom of religion in the roman impire.The Edict of Milan was a letter signed by emperors Constantine and Licinius, that proclaimed religious toleration in the Roman Empire."When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I, Licinius Augustus, fortunately met near Mediolanurn (Milan), and were considering everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many, those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity ought certainly to be made first, so that we might grant to the Christians and others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred"This freedom is the base of the western civilization and the constitution of the United States.
What do you call person preparing to become a christian?
When you become a Christian, you do not 'prepare' for it. Therefore, there is nothing to be called except that you are still an unforgiven sinner because you have not repented yet. When you do repent and choose to give your life to God, then you are still a sinner, but now you are forgiven, aka a Christian. When you get saved, you Must be repentant.
Why did Constantine make Christianity the religion of Rome?
Emperor Theodosius (378-395) was a Christian, like all but one of the Roman emperors since Constantine. Paganism was weakened by almost a century of persecution and could no longer resist Christian domination. Theodosius could declare the public worship of pagan gods illegal, knowing that the remaining pagans in the empire could not resist him and his Christian supporters.
