Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Julio · 06-10-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamJoseph

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julio

"...Rome's heresy decree..."
Can you please clarify?
Thanks.

This was a notorious decree initiated by Caligula, which mandated all conquered nations had to house a statue of the emperor in the temples or places of worship, and worship the emperor as a divine diety.

This posed a nasty problem for the Jews, who were strict Monotheists and forbid image worship. And Jesus was not a Chrstian but a Judean Jew. Some 3 million Jews were killed for rejecting this Roman decree between Caligula and Titus reigns, so how would Jesus have escaped?

OK, thanks. I had read about that, obviously long time ago, but I don't know if it was still enforced in Jesus' days in Palestine... was it?

premjan · 06-10-2009, 10:21 AM

Refusing to worship the emperor - kudos for that.

sharrock · 06-10-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julio

OK, thanks. I had read about that, obviously long time ago, but I don't know if it was still enforced in Jesus' days in Palestine... was it?

Maybe, maybe not during Caligula's time, probably not afterwards... Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( 31 August 12 – 24 January 41)...

Quote:

For while all the subject peoples in the Roman Empire had dedicted alters and temples to Gaius and had given him the same attentions in other respects as they did the gods, these people alone (The Jews) scorned to honour him with statues and swear by his name... many thousands of Jews met Petronius at Ptolemais with petitions not to make them transgress and violate their ancestral code. No later emperor was to attempt to compel Jews to worship other gods.

Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations (or via: amazon.co.uk)

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06-10-2009, 10:21 AM	#22
premjan Obsessed Contributor Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 61,538	Refusing to worship the emperor - kudos for that.

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