Rome: The Rise Of Christianity

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Today, Christianity is the world’s most prevalent religion. Yet how did that come to be? Contrary to popular belief, the rise of Christianity was not an inevitable occurrence. Instead the rise of Christianity was due to the amalgamation of radical ideas and unexpected events. The radical ideas, of religious tolerance, conversion, the philosopher’s freedom to question, and missionaries, created the foundation for a new age of religion to rise.

Unbeknownst to many, Rome had a religious tolerance that was rare in the ancient world. Some might even call it radical. This tolerance allowed small cults and sects, including Christianity, to cultivate (de Ste Croix, 1963). Unfortunately, the Christian’s refusal to worship pagan gods caused the Romans …show more content…

Rome was comparable to the United States in that Rome was a melding of cultures and ideas. So long as the Roman gods were their primary deities, people could worship and deities they wished (Fierro, 2015). Unlike Roman religion, which offered no answer to life after death, these religions offered promises of retribution in death and eternal life (Fierro, 2015). Among them, was Christianity, which would eventually become the staple religion in Rome. As well as allowing sects and cults to grow, Rome’s religious tolerance allowed philosophers to question the very essence of a soul. A new school of philosophy, called Neoplatonism, arose, centred around the idea of the union between the soul and the Ultimate Being (Fierro, 2015). This freedom to question the state religion resulted in a radical change in Roman ideas. Harnack adds that the fall of polytheism was not due to the rise of Christianity, but rather, to the Roman philosophers, ethicists, and rationalists who realized the ruthlessness of polytheism and openly attacked it (Harnack, 1904).

Constantine's conversion and the subsequent fall of polytheism would have been useless if not for Paul the Apostle. Prior to Paul, Christianity was a hereditary religion, and conversion was uncommon. Paul was unique in that he preached to Gentiles and Christians alike (Fierro, 2015). For this, Paul became the first Apostle, or missionary, of Christianity (Fierro, 2015). His preachings allowed Romans to hear his message, and learn about the minority of people who practiced Christianity (Fierro, 2015). As more people converted, Christianity

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