answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer
AnswerThe Romans noticed that the early Christians seemed to give greater loyalty to their bishops than to the Roman state. Bishops seemed to have enormous power and authority among the Christians. Thus the Romans suspected Christians of disloyalty.

Individual instances of disloyalty only confirmed the general suspicion. Edward Gibbon tells of an African youth who had been produced by his own father before the magistrate as a sufficient and legal recruit, but who obstinately persisted in declaring that his Christian conscience would not permit him to become a soldier. In another example, Marcellus the centurion threw away his arms and the ensigns of his office at the time of a public festival, and exclaimed with a loud voice that he would obey none but Jesus Christ the eternal King, and that he renounced forever the use of carnal weapons and the service of an idolatrous master. This was not a case of being unwilling to serve as an army officer, rather a case of being unwilling to serve a pagan emperor.
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

The Romans were tolerant of any religion which was open and not a threat to stability. However they were used to people practicing their religion openly at temples. Those who met in secret were suspected of plotting revolution. There was a great slaughter of the Baccanalians in the 2nd Century BCE when they began to get completely out of hand. Christianity was for 50 years the Nazorean sect of Judaism, but was expelled from Judaism in the late 1st Century CE, and as they met in private houses, drew suspicion on themselves a plotters. The fact that most of the early followers were Greek didn't help - the Romans regarded the Greeks as perennial troublemakers and plotters. The Romans took pre-emptive action in many centres.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

It's not so much that they were Christians; truth be told, the Romans weren't happy about the Jews either. Rome had a state religion-- an official faith that everyone was expected to follow. Jews and Christians tended to regard the Roman gods as pagan-- idols, in other words-- rather than divine. This did not make the Romans happy-- part of their faith was to believe the country's leader was like a god, and deserving of worship. Needless to say, most Christians and Jews did not believe they should worship the emperor, or the generals, or anyone else other than God (for Jews) and/or God and Jesus (for Christians). The Romans saw any other religion as competition; the official state religion was the one they believed to be superior. Thus, Christians (and anyone else who dissented from the official state religion) were seen as traitors because they were not willing to pray to the Roman deities or participate in emperor-worship.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why were Christians considered traitors by the Romans?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about General History

What did the traitors wear when they were in the American Revolution?

The colonists were considered to be the traitors. The traitors wore blue clothing when they were in the American Revolution.


Why was it dangerous for the colonist to declare independence from Britain?

because they will be considered traitors by King George lll and traitors are put to death by hanging


Why did the Romans consider Christians to be atheists?

In Roman times, anyone who denied that the emperor was divine was considered a dangerous atheist. Christians and Jews both got into trouble because of this.


Why were Christians prosecuted more by the Romans than followers of some other religion?

They had been considered a threat to the State since they refused to take arms and join the armed services creating a security gap in the defend of the empire. Many times the sanctions against Christians were also leveled against the Jews. It actually took a while for the Romans to distinguish them as separate sects, but they were often lumped together because they were so stubborn and exclusive. The Christians, as mentioned above, were considered an internal threat. In fact, they were considered traitors and promoters of bad morality. By refusing to worship or even acknowledge the Pagan gods and divine quality of the emperor, the Christians were in effect decrying the entire Roman social structure and government. Thus it is perfectly understandable why the Romans distrusted them; they were materially traitors and were impious to the gods, and thus morally corrupt and a scandal to the Roman public. Matters were not helped by certain Christian apologists who loved to rub the Pagans' noses in it when some disaster or military defeat happened. The Romans were very tolerant of other religions provided those religions were themselves tolerant to other religions and recognized the Roman gods. Christianity and Judaism rejected this basic rule, being intolerant religions, and thus were never received well, even initially.


Who were put to death by the Romans for being Christians?

Umm. Christians?

Related questions

Why did the Romans single out christians to persecute from time to time?

The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.The Christians were considered subversive by the Romans due to their disrespect for the state religion by refusing to honor the gods that protected Rome.


What did Romans see christianty as?

At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.At first the Romans considered Christianity a Jewish sect. When it officially split from Judaism it was considered a subversive sect due to the Christians' refusal to offer sacrifices for the good of the empire.


What did the traitors wear when they were in the American Revolution?

The colonists were considered to be the traitors. The traitors wore blue clothing when they were in the American Revolution.


Why was it dangerous for the colonist to declare independence from Britain?

because they will be considered traitors by King George lll and traitors are put to death by hanging


Why are the Weasley's blood traitors?

They are considered blood traitors because they help and like muggle-borns and muggles.


Why did the Romans consider Christians to be atheists?

In Roman times, anyone who denied that the emperor was divine was considered a dangerous atheist. Christians and Jews both got into trouble because of this.


Why did the Romans not accept or tolerate-Christianity?

The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.The problems the Romans faced with the Christians was one of treason, at least in Roman eyes. The Romans had a belief that in order to keep their good fortune they had to honor their state gods, as it was because of them that Rome grew so powerful. The Christians refused this basic obligation. There were other reasons that the Romans disliked and distrusted the Christians, among them a misconception of their beliefs, their clannishness and secretiveness, and most of all their aggressiveness which led to civil unrest.


Why were Christians prosecuted more by the Romans than followers of some other religion?

They had been considered a threat to the State since they refused to take arms and join the armed services creating a security gap in the defend of the empire. Many times the sanctions against Christians were also leveled against the Jews. It actually took a while for the Romans to distinguish them as separate sects, but they were often lumped together because they were so stubborn and exclusive. The Christians, as mentioned above, were considered an internal threat. In fact, they were considered traitors and promoters of bad morality. By refusing to worship or even acknowledge the Pagan gods and divine quality of the emperor, the Christians were in effect decrying the entire Roman social structure and government. Thus it is perfectly understandable why the Romans distrusted them; they were materially traitors and were impious to the gods, and thus morally corrupt and a scandal to the Roman public. Matters were not helped by certain Christian apologists who loved to rub the Pagans' noses in it when some disaster or military defeat happened. The Romans were very tolerant of other religions provided those religions were themselves tolerant to other religions and recognized the Roman gods. Christianity and Judaism rejected this basic rule, being intolerant religions, and thus were never received well, even initially.


Who bothered the Romans about Christians?

Christians believed that Jesus was the king of the Jews; a treasonous thought. Christians denounced what they felt were the sinful ways of the Romans.


Who did Romans persecute?

Christians:)


Who were put to death by the Romans for being Christians?

Umm. Christians?


Why were the members of the second continental congress considered traitors?

Because they traded there team and they got called traitors by King George 3