Religious Movement, Wallace and Christianity - Essay Example

Wallace and Christianity It is a well-known fact among anthropologists that religions have the tendency to change and evolve, as belief structures within human beings often change and evolve. Thus, the concept of religion as a dynamic structure is nothing new. However, the concept of religion changing in stages is an interesting phenomenon, and one presented by Anthony F.C. Wallace. In Wallace’s theory, he claims that religions move through a progression of five stages, and this movement through these stages can explain many reasons for why the religions tend to evolve. The stages discussed by Wallace are prophetic, utopian, messianic, millennial, or millenarian. Within this concept is the idea of what Wallace calls a “revitalization movement” in the structure of the religions society. According to Bartleby’s definition of a revitalization movement, a revitalization movement can be defined as: political-religious movements promising deliverance from deprivation, the elimination of foreign domination, and a new interpretation of the human condition based on traditional cultural values, common in societies undergoing severe stress associated with colonial conquest and intense class or racial exploitation. Thus, within this concept, a religious culture undergoing this type of transition would experience the stages of a steady state, a period of increasing individual stress, a period of cultural distortion, revitalization, routinization, and then a new steady state. By taking a close look at how the religion of Christianity developed, we can see these transitions through the stages of revitalization in action, and can hence gain a better understanding of Wallace’s theory. Christianity, like every other religion, has passed through these stages and experienced these transitions. The first stage of this process that applies to Christianity is the steady state. When the birth of Christianity first took place, it occurred during the Roman steady state period. Rome was the strongest Empire in the world at the time, and thus, was undergoing a period of prosperity. The Empire was increasingly expanding, becoming more powerful, and winning even greater conquests. The power of the Romans, at the time, was vast and limitless, and as they continued to conquer, they continued to gain. At the time, it seemed like the Roman power force would be never-ending, and Rome was perhaps the greatest Empire of all time. This would perhaps even put Rome beyond the point of the actual steady state. At the same time, another country affected by both Rome and Christianity, Egypt, because of their bonding with Rome, was also experiencing a period of prosperity and steadiness, as well as wealth. Both of these great nations, which would be affected by Christianity, were certainly undergoing a steady period before the development of the religion. Thus, the outset of Christianity opened with a steady state, much as Wallace described. The next stage, the period of increasing individual stress, began to occur when Roman culture rejected the idea of a new religion. Egyptian culture also followed suit and the concept of there being only one God for both of these monotheistic cultures seemed ridiculous. As such, Christians were ill-treated initially, looked down upon, and treated as heretics. These negative feelings eventually led to the executions of Christians based on their religious preaching. Christianity was not to be spread or spoken of, and was not highly accepted. The people who tended to embrace the religion were poor and thus had little power, however, still, the religion continued to spread because the number of poor far outweighed the number of rich individuals in both Egyptian and Roman culture. Christianity, with its fair and kind outlook, was very attractive to those who were suffering. The mistreatment of Christians continued and this period eventually moved into the next stage, that of increasing cultural distortion. Eventually, because they were growing in number, the Christians were becoming a more powerful force in Rome and Egypt. The aristocracy continued to mistreat the Christians, executed them, and on occasion, even fed them to lions. In Egypt, many Christians were enslaved and executed. However, something amazing happened while this period was going on. A Roman emperor converted to Christianity. The Emperor Constantine became the first Christian Roman Emperor, and with his conversation came a new generation and period of Christianity for Rome. Constantine’s faith can be verified by a religious vision he encountered: A vision had assured him that he should conquer in the sign of the Christ, and his warriors carried Christ’s monogram on their shields, though the majority of them were pagans. The opposing forces met near the bridge over the Tiber called the Milvian Bridge, and here Maxentius troops suffered a complete defeat, the tyrant himself losing his life in the Tiber (28 October, 312). Of his gratitude to the God of the Christians the victor immediately gave convincing proof; the Christian worship was henceforth tolerated throughout the empire (Edict of Milan, early in 313). His enemies he treated with the greatest magnanimity; no bloody executions followed the victory of the Milvian Bridge. (Constantine the Great). Thus, Constantine’s conversion and heavy Christian conviction opened the door to a new phase for the Christians and the Roman Empire as well. Now Christianity was the religion of the Emperor, and in order to please him, many aristocrats who had once rejected the religion followed suit and converted. This was, of course, a massive victory for the Christians. With Constantine’s conversion began the period of revitalization and routinization. More and more people began to convert. The growth of the number of Christians in the Empire after the Emperor’s conversion was extreme, and by and far Christianity became the most powerful religion in the Roman world during the time of Constantine’s rule. This factor continued with Constantine’s children, and thus, the stabilization of Christianity made the religion even stronger, and more powerful within the Roman world. Because of the changes Constantine made, a new steady state developed. According to Ferguson: His conversion helped Christianity in many ways. Followers were safe from persecution, and Christian leaders were given many gifts by the Emperor. Constantines adherence to Christianity ensured exposure of all his subjects to the religion, and he had no small domain. He also made Sunday an official Roman holiday so that more people could attend church, and made churches tax-exempt. However, many of the same things that helped Christianity spread subtracted from its personal significance and promoted corruption and hypocrisy. Many people were attracted to the Church because of the money and favored positions available to them from Constantine rather than from piety. The growth of the Church and its new-found public aspect prompted the building of specialized places of worship where leaders were architecturally separated from the common attendees, which stood in sharp contrast to the earlier house churches which were small and informal. Overall, by applying Wallace’s steps, we can see that religion does, indeed, have the tendency to go through these progressive steps. Examining a religion as large as Christianity up close gives us a reflection of how Wallace’s concepts work when put into action. Like the other major religions, Christianity has undergone these changes and evolutions, and also like the other major religions, it will continue to grow and evolve. Works Cited “Constantine the Great.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. 6 April 2006. < http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04295c.htm>. Ferguson, Corey. “Constantine Converts to Christianity.” Russia and Europe Chronology. 15 December 1998. 6 April 2006. < http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/EastEurope/ConstantineConverts.html>. “Revitalization movement.” Bartleby. 6 April 2006. < http://www.bartleby.com/65/re/revitali.html>. Read More