On The Christian Generation

Christian culture is integral part of western culture, which has been profoundly influencing all aspects of western society. So, studying and exploring the historical background of the emergence of Christianity would provide a better understanding of the whole history of Christianity and characteristic of the ancient western society. It is of special significance since it would help us to get an insight into religions in the present society. This dissertation makes an attempt to investigate the emergence of Christianity, from a historical perspective, in the whole society setting of the Roman Empire, and makes a comprehensive inquiry into the Roman background of the emergence of Christianity. It consists four chapters.Chapter one examines the cosmopolitan characteristic of the Roman Empire and the relationship between this characteristic and the emergence of Christianity. The cosmopolitan characteristic of the Roman Empire had caused the profound change of the society, also the profound change of the religion setting. The cosmopolitan Empire required a cosmopolitan religion. Christianity had adapted itself to this requirement just in time and therefore had the characteristic of cosmopolitism since it came into being.Chapter two is concerned with the relationship between "The Pax Romana" and the initial spread of Christianity. Peaceful society condition had provided the missionary work of Christianity with relative advantageous environment and relative abundant material guarantee.Chapter three makes an in-depth analysis about the religious policy of the Roman Empire and the further development of Christianity. The general religious policy of the early Roman Empire had a characteristic of "tolerance". The main policy concerning the early Christianity was tolerant as well. In such relatively lenient environment, Christianity had gotten a further development.Chapter four explores the persecution from the Roman Empire and the measures of the Church, analyses the effect that this persecution as well as the measures had brought to Christianity.This dissertation holds that Christianity was the outcome of the cosmopolitan Roman Empire. Such cosmopolitan Empire and its social condition, which included the political development and the economic development and so on, had composed the historical conditions, which were essential to the emergence and development of Christianity.