On Early Christianity And The Roman Empire

Christianity has been influencing Western civilization profoundly since it came into being. Exploring how the interrelationship between Early Christianity and the Roman Empire changed would therefore provide a better understanding of both the past and the present of Western civilization. It is of special significance since it would help us to get an insight into religions and the relationship between religions and politics in the present society. This dissertation makes an attempt in this direction by investigating, from a social-cultural perspective, the relationship between Early Christianity and the Roman Empire (the first century -A.D.380), and the influences of such a relationship. It consists of five chapters.Chapter One examines the grand social and cultural backgrounds under which Christianity came into being. Firstly, political unification and the mingling of various cultures in the Roman Empire urged a new religion for the whole society. Secondly, that classical philosophy underwent internal developments foreshadowed Christianity ideologically. Thirdly, with the new challenges the Jews and Judaism were facing in the unifying empire, Christianity proved to be the 'sprout' of the age-old tree of Judaism on the land of the Roman Empire.Chapter Two is concerned with the relationship between Early Christianity and the Roman Empire before A.D. 64. and the impact of this relationship. The moment it came into being, Christianity found itself bogged down into complicated relations with both orthodox Jews and the executive authorities of the Roman Empire. The hostility of orthodox Jews and the acquiesce and protection of the executive authorities had make it possible for Christianity to shake off fetters of the national parochialism of Judaism and expand to broader areas beyond Palestine .Chapter Three explores firstly the evolution of the policies that the Roman Empire adopted toward Christianity from A.D. 64 to A.D. 313 and touches upon reasons for the evolution. It then centers on analysing reasons for the persecution of Early Christianity. From A.D. 64 to A.D.250, the policies of the Roman Empire were mainly responses to the anti-Christianity fanaticism of the mass of pagans, therefore the persecutions were limited and unorganized. From A.D. 250 to A.D.313 , however, the Roman Empire government persecuted Christianity from the superior departments on a daily broadening scale and with greater thoroughness. The Empireadjusted its policies in accordance with the interactive relations of Early Christianity, the Empire government and the mass of pagans. The government, though profoundly influenced by religious factors, proceeded from its political needs and aimed at maintaining and consolidating its control.Chapter four probes how Early Christianity reacted and fought against challenges from the external world. Early Christianity constantly adapted itself to the changes of the environment. Christians resorted to apology and martyrdom etc. to defend their belief. As the most convincing demonstration of their belief, martyrdom enhanced the self-identity of Christians as a whole and greatly propagated Early Christianity as well. Facing the third-century crisis, especially the two pestilences, Christianity, by reacting entirely differently from paganism, demonstrated its ideological advantages to the full, and made considerable development. Chapter five examines the process and reasons of Constantine's conversion to Christianity and the officialization of Christianity. It also discusses the significance of this conversion on both Early Christianity and the Roman Empire. Out of the political concerns, Contantine gave vigourou support to the church and mangaged to gain control of it gradually through intervention in the disputes within the church. Most of his successors pursued this policy and eventually changed Christianity into the state religion of Rome in A.D. 380. During this process of officialization, the church had been greatly developing, with self-adjustments and adaptations. This mod...