sotto voce

The concept of Christian monarchy, crystallised in 'Christian' oaths, sworn by monarchs at coronation services, under the authority of mitred 'bishops', is a very long-standing one that has not entirely vanished, even now. One coronation oath was even televised and broadcast, and virtually the whole British population listened to that oath, either on television or radio. There's no privileged information here.

'Archbishop. Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel?'

http://www.royal.gov.uk/ImagesandBro...2June1953.aspx

Now this question is an echo that goes back many centuries, not just in England, but in the whole of Europe. It has therefore been carried to many colonised regions of the world. It even has resonance in the statutes of the USA, that reckons to separate church and state. It is very arguable that the moral strictures of Islam are consequent on perceived authority of the Bible. It is therefore more than possible that the Bible has had a shaming and civilising effect on most of the world.

Wholly antichrist writs.

As anyone who has read the Letter to the Hebrews is aware.

Diogenes the Cynic

Constantine didn't have to do anything. He elevated an obscure cult because his mother was a convert. If Helena had been a Mithraist, then Mithraism would be the dominant world religion right now.

Like I've told you before, Christianity won a lottery not a debate.

aa5874

Killing people for God is NOT winning a lotto.

Against the Galilleans

andrewcriddle

Since women could not be Mithraists the above is a little unlikely.

Andrew Criddle

Diogenes the Cynic

Cybelian then. Smart ass. :redface:

mountainman

The evidence behind the legend that Helena was a christian convert is not what you'd call compelling.


Who sold the lottery tickets? Who collected the payments? Who advertised a free lottery leading up to Nicaea? Was it a free lottery? Do we know who entered the lottery? Do we know how the winner was selected? Do we know the process behind the machinery of the emperor's final decision? Really?

What happened to the other lottery entrants such as the Asclepians?

Some lottery entrants were apparently publically executed.

This does not sound at all like a lottery to me.

Do you seriously believe this Helena was a christian and the christians won the lottery shit?

Do you believe Helena found the 300 year old Cross and Nails?

Do you believe in the propaganda of the heresiological victors?

I dont.

Diogenes the Cynic

Yes, I think Helena was a convert (if not a born Christian) and Constantine (who I believe was himself indifferent to the religion) and passed the Edict of Milan to please her.

Of course I do not believe she found relics. I think she got hustled by the locals.

aa5874

You mean the locals were suicidal?? Who would "hustle" the Emperor's mother??

You must mean the locals got hustled and not only the locals but indeed the people of the Roman Empire.

Up to now, you are still attempting to convince people that the Jesus character in the Bible of the time of Constantine is a product of history and was NOT hustled.

DoubtingDave

Thank you all so much for your feedback. The debate has concluded and it looks like (via the voters) that I have won the debate.

sotto voce

Winning of a religious debate by votes is not usually much of a victory.