Religious Conflicts: 2nd-4th century and 16th-17th century - Essay Example

RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS Comparisons between new religious groups during the 2nd and 3rd centuries under Roman rule as well as the 16th and 17th centuries in great Europe show that the environment of the times saw many similarities and differences. In both instances, the status quo was challenged by a novel religious movement, and the balance of power was at risk of changing. Despite being centuries apart, both were examples of groundbreaking changes not only in religion but in politics and culture.

The groups in power treated the new religious groups somewhat differently in each case. During the time of the Roman Empire, Christianity was generally seen as dangerous and unacceptable. At the worst of times, Christians were treated as complete criminals based on their belief and practice, and as a result were often executed. At other times, there were forced to make sacrifices and give respect to the traditional Roman gods and goddesses under penalty of finds, demotion, exile, and again, death.

The overall treatment of the new ground during the 2nd and 3rd centuries was a harsh reaction with the intention of eradicating the religion, or at least humiliating it. Similarly, Catholic rulers and clergy treated Protestantism as heresy, and hoped to contain and reverse its spread. However, Protestants also treated Catholics as heretics, and gained control over certain geographic areas due to political support. In these cases, treaties were sometimes made for tolerance of the status quo, and the Catholic Church even moved towards reform as a response.

The Romans, however, were affected by Christianity so as to reform, cede territory, or cede power. In the Roman period, the differences in belief led to standoffs and a lockdown by Romans against Christian communities. This in turn led to mass executions, and an overall atmosphere of oppression. There was, as a result, hostility between the Roman Empire and its Christian population that could not be resolved with negotiation. In Europe, however, power was more equal between the Protestant and Catholic communities, which had both positive and negative effects.

In one sense, it led to more civilized resolutions, such as governments embracing Protestantism at the local level. However, the differences in belief led also to extreme laws against heresy, causing similar executions but also a fierce competition between leaders of each religious community to spread their religion to other countries. Civil war in France, violence in Switzerland, oppression of Catholics in Ireland, and the Inquisition in the Spanish Hapsburg territories showed the intensity of the religious divide.

These differences were not settled peacefully in either time for individual reasons. In the Roman Empire, the differences were not settled peacefully because Roman law had no method for Christians to seek legal protection, redress, and retaliation. In addition, Roman governments did not seek to extend any special protection of religious groups, as opposed to ethnic groups, and saw Christianity not as an ideological threat but as a physical, existential threat that must be violently opposed. As a whole, the state religion did not allow for competition.

In Europe, the issue was one of geography. Rulers expected their lands to follow the state religion as well, and when populations split on religious preference, rebellions occurred. Protestant or Catholic rebellions were also seen as not merely ideological, but an attempt to depose rulers and install a new regime with different religious views, such as the French crackdown on Huguenots or the splitting of German princedoms. As a whole, these issues were not viewed as differences of opinion, but as politically irreconcilable and related to possession of land.