Diogenes the Cynic

That's not the definition of Christianity. You are using a bogus definition.

steve_bnk

What do you think.

sotto voce

Surely, what anyone would think of a state that needs more than the rule of law in order to exist would suppose that there's something less than legitimate about it. Is that the point you wished to make?

Diogenes the Cynic

What do you mean by "legitimate?"

Governments have always liked to use religion to control people. It's a useful tool. It's the whole reason the Torah was written. What is your point?

steve_bnk

You did not answer. Why did you think the Romans consider state relgion an important aspect of stability?

What is our modern social glue.

Along with religion it is pro sports, entertainment media etc.

You get born into a fairly smoothly running s0ciety without questioning why it does so.

Roger Pearse

Well done -- you're right. I wondered whether anyone would spot the crude falsehoods -- good that someone did.

Did Sheshbazaar just make this stuff up himself? or was it copied from somewhere, and if so, where?

sotto voce

It is presumed that this was the sequitur point you wished to make, that the Roman state was fundamentally corrupt, which of course historians have long acknowledged.

If someone says, "Follow my religion, or suffer," that is not loving one's neighbour as oneself, and it is therefore not Christian. If such a person represents himself as Christian, it can be said that he actively opposes Christianity; which may be taken as witness to the power if not the truth of Christianity, to the degree of authority and influence possessed by that person.

Duvduv

Roger, for all we know all the stories of the 4th century may be mostly legend fabricated by the imperial system. The Nicene Creed of 325 which no one questions as to what it means or what it represents.
The so-called war against the Arians, which somehow allowed Arians to continue existing in other areas for two hundred years (kinds of reminds me of the gap between Sunnis and Shia).
Some of the so-called laws of Theodosius I.
Just like the lack of questioning what happened in the
2nd century.......

steve_bnk

Huh? The point is Rome and Egypt both placed value in state religion as a moderating and cohesive force. Moderating as opposed to chaos and anarchy in a largely brutal and unforgiving world.


On the contrary during its best period in its long run contrasted to the rest of world at the time Rome was advanced. We are still plagued by corruption as is painfully demonstarted. Any past civilization can be ugly and brutal when viewed thru our modern sensibilities.

Citizens had rights
Stability promoted economic growth
Puiblic works like water and roads

Rome perhaps had the first functioning 'middle class'.

la70119

It does make sense if one believes that the Chriatianity that perished was not the same Christianity that was invented in 325 CE, but was diametrically opposed to it.