How Religion Affected Civic Life

How Religion Impacted Civic Life in the Roman Empire and Vedic India

Religion throughout the centuries has had an enormous impact on the social construct of society and how people actively participate in civic life. Ancient Rome and Vedic India both had very active religious cultures that shaped and defined civic life in their societies. Without these religions, the defining characteristics of these civilizations may be inexistent today. While both of these civilizations had religions that largely impacted societal life, they were very different from each other. Religion in Ancient Rome and Vedic India defined what was socially acceptable in civic life and provided structure for social treatment of others, while both still conveying very different

In civic life this would mean that many try to follow the example of Christ and strive to come unto him, and to worship God. The people would be striving to ‘love one another’ as is often declared by Christian prophets and missionaries. Theodosius also had an impact on Christianity. He was a Roman emperor in 380. Theodosius declared that everyone should be a Christian. Many religious figures at the time did not agree with Theodosius trying to force people to be Christian, but it still happened anyways. This declaration by Theodosius quickly led to the persecution and maltreatment of those in the empire who were not converted to Christianity. If they were unwilling, they quickly received social retaliation from others in the empire. Christian religion in the Roman empire changed the way that citizens treated each other for the good and the bad. Vedic India was a primarily Hindu society. Hinduism follows a belief in many different gods and the belief in karma and that your actions have a significant effect on your life now and your lives to come. One of the classic Hindu creation myths is that of the creature Purusha. Purusha was sacrificed and from his death came