Why did Christianity become the religion of the Roman Empire - Term Paper Example

The Triumph of Christianity Christianity is one of the religions in todays society alongside other faiths such as Hindu, Paganism and Muslim among others. In this paper, we will focus on the triumph of Christianity in the Roman Empire, which is dated back to the ancient times (Sheridan 187). The existence and start of Christianity had many hindrances the main one being the prosecution. Paganism and Heathenism in the Rome hindered the growth of the Christian religion. Christians experienced high fines and wages, incremental terms of imprisonment and spiritual penalties (Bonnet & Mitchell 509).

Rome citizens lost civic virtue by succumbing to various barbaric invasions (Curran 51). They outsourced the duty to secure the empire from external mercenaries who later were famous which led them to take up the rule of the empire. Pagans increased their level of sacrifices from the fact that Christians had a belief that life existed after one was dead (Bonnet & Mitchell 511). The decline of the Roman Empire is in other regions like North America, it is connected to the rise of a dissenting form of Christianity.

In the ancient period, Rome was evil, and decline was due to Christians overcoming their prosecutors. It was in Galerius’ reign that Christians in Rome would freely worship. Galerius being one of the figures in prosecutions granted the practice of the Christian religion in April 311 (Curran 53). Christians enjoyed the right of a legally accepted religion of Rome (Bonnet & Mitchell 511). Christianity was able to gain more members to its faith by the time Galerius term ended. After the reign of Galerius, Constantine took up the Rome Empire; it was during his rule that Christians encountered a turning point.

In Constantine, his law, Christianity had significant developments; it became an officially recognized religion.This was made possible when Constantine made use of Christian signs and symbols in his reign although other previous religions such as the sun worship were still observed. Constantine built an entirely Christian architecture that had churches in it and lacked any pagan temples (Sheridan 189). A foundation had been set for what is seen today as the center and origin of the Christian world.

Constantius, who was Constantines son, ensured that all pagan sacrifices were banned on the Roman land. Gibbon being paganism challenged the history of the church by the small number of martyrs at the time (187). The church’s traditions were barely questioned. Gibbon believed that the church books were purely secondary materials this is evaded by the documentation period. Gibbon relates the decline of the Roman state to the abuse of Christianity and its introduction ( 187). The new religion in the Roman state oppressed its majority of citizens.

The bishops of various pulpits in Rome encouraged for obedience in the empire to be a lawful and sovereign (Gibbon 188). Constantines rule led to a victorious religion by breaking the violence of its fall from ferocious prosecutors.The introduction of Christianity to Rome is disputed to be the success by Constantine making it the official religion but as a result of lethargy (Gibbon 188). Historical writers such as Bury rule the fact that Gibbon has no evidence for his claims of Christian apathy to the Roman Empire.

Christianity by its forces intended to weaken the powers bestowed upon the Roman Empire (Gibbon188). The Roman Christians were determined in that Rome was among the first Christian cities in the world along with Jerusalem and Antioch (Sheridan 188). The Roman church became highly respected; its faithful increased and it had more authority over the Roman Empire.Works CitedBonnet, Corinne, Mitchell, Van Nuffelen, One God. Pagan Monotheism In The Roman Empire. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print. Curran, John R.

 Pagan City and Christian Capital. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2000. Print.Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. London: Electric Book Co., 2001. Print.Sheridan, James J. The Altar of Victory - Paganisms Last Battle. Lantiquité Classique 35.1 (1966): 186-206. Print.