Amedeo

And don't forget that there are two pieces of real evidence: the prepuce, which was cut at circumcision, and the blood that was spilled from the cross.

The prepuce-relic is preserved in a church at Ameria (near Rome). Unfortunately, there is a dozen churches in Europe that also preserves the prepuce.

The blood (with the dirt on which it fell) was collected by Longinus, the one who did the spear testing to see if the crucified king was still alive. There is a long story about the preserved blood. Eventually some German in Italy had a dream that revealed where the blood was hidden. It was found and preserved in reliquaries in Modena. Then some European princes stole most of it, but some samples are still preserved in a church.

Since there are still people today who are descendants of the Merovingians, who claim to descend from Jesus and Mary Magdalene at Rennes-le-Chateau, some DNA testing could be done to find out if the blood in the reliquares and in today's Merovingians are related.

If Jesus did not DIE in the tomb and walked around, so that not even his disciples recognized him at first (before taking off for the land of the future Templars), or if he went to heaven, the tomb would have no possible real evidence left.

As you know, even the steps leading to Pilate's office were preserved and carried to Rome... Helen is a saint, because she miracuoysly made many people find just about anything connected withg Jesus.

Can we find relics of the father of Jesus? Well, if we are talking about Jesus the descendant of king David [who was born before King Herod, in 4 B.C.], through Joseph, you might. If we are talking by Jesus the messiah, who was born of Mary and of God [years later, probably around 6 A.D.], then it may be difficult to find God either dead or alive.

Toto

No - Constantine did not make Christianity the sole legal religion, just a state supported religion.

Steven Avery

Did he set up a school voucher system ?
Put chaplains in the military ?
Tax exemptions ?

I'm actually curious.
What did he do.. what did he not do ?

Shalom,
Steven Avery
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Messianic_Apologetic

Toto

praxeus - this is very basic to Christian history. Why are you asking this question in this thread?

Constantine and Christianity Most of the rest of this Wiki article is marked "source needed" but I don't think the basic thrust is in disupte. Constantine ended the persecution against the Christian church and granted it some favors in the army and government, but did not forbid other religions. Later Emperors made Christianity the sole religion and started persecutions of pagans and Jews.

mountainman

Yes - Constantine wrote edicts c.325 CE arising from the
Council of Nicaea. The edicts were not about legalities.
The edicts were concerning life and death (by beheading).

The edicts were written against both the writings of Porphyry,
who cannot be regarded anything less than one of the more
prominent academics of his era, and the writings of the
"Porphyrian" Arius.

The translation of this edict, in letter form, written purportedly
by Constantine is available at this page.

The persecution of the non-christians as documented by Rassias
lists the various persecutions which occurred in the time period
from Constantine, right through the rest of the fourth century.

It is my understanding that most of Rassias' source references are
to be found in the "Theodosian Codex", as edicts, similar indeed
in their malevolency and persecution, to the initial edict (above).

mountainman

LOTS

Steven Avery

We have a just a state-supported religion, but not a state-sponsored religion. There is some language nuance here. Is ending persecution considered state-supported? (Perhaps his efforts in organizing the Council of Nicea ? .. did the government pay the folks or did they stay in the hotels or with locals ?) I gave some examples above of what are considered state-sponsored today, and I am trying to see where the Constantine regime lies. More in the realm of neutrality and 'tolerance' and ending persecution or more in the realm of sponsorship and favoritism. Of course I am using the term "Christianity" contextually and advisedly.

Plus, this is more "basic" to those who have a Creedalistic viewpoint. Many look at this as very late in the day, when the doctrinal downhill path was rolling along.

Shalom,
Steven

Chili

I always though that that tomb was hewn in the mind of Joseph as if out of rock to burry his Jewish identity once and for all.

It has something to do with piece of mind after the crucifixion of this usurper that occupied his mind and took charge of his volition as slave to Judaism and the burden of sin.

Toto

If you read up on it, Constantine's policies tended toward sponsorship and favoritism. He built churches, for one thing.

mountainman

He was also an active christian proselyter, according to one
modern historian.