Did Emperor Diocletian allow Christians to worship their own god?

Answer 1

A:Yes, at first this was the case. Edward Gibbon (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) says that during more than eighteen years from the start of the reign of Diocletian, Christians enjoyed a mild and liberal spirit of toleration. The emperor's principal eunuchs, Lucian, Dorotheus, Gorgonius and Andrew were Christians and used their influence for the benefit of their faith. Bishops held an honourable rank in their respective provinces and were treated with distinction and respect, not only by the people, but by magistrates themselves. Almost in every city, the ancient churches were overflowing and more stately and capacious edifices were erected in their place for the public worship of the faithful.

Gibbon believed that it was because the Christians renounced the gods and institutions of Rome, were already governed by their own laws and magistrates, and were obedient to their bishops who held frequent assemblies, that Diocletian acted against them, before they constituted a distinct republic that had acquired any military force. He decreed that the churches be demolished and that Christian worship be outlawed.

Within fifteen days of the edict being published, the palace of Nicomedia, even the bedchamber of Diocletian, were twice in flames. The suspicion naturally fell on the Christians. A few days later Diocletian's co-emperor, Galerius, hastily left Nicomedia, declaring his fear that he would fall victim to the rage of the Christians. These events and the unrest that followed caused Diocletian to believe that the only solution was to eliminate the Christian faith.

Notwithstanding the severity of the laws, magistrates found ways to avoid demolishing churches in the provinces, and many pagans showed courage in concealing their friends or relations.

Diocletian himself was tired of the pressures of empire and retired almost as soon as these edicts had been put in place.