Broozr

Agreeing that ecumenism can refer to one physical, structurally organized Church (as THE Church was in the first century excluding all unorthodox offshoots), I am looking for evidence in the archaeological record that early Christianity did in fact possess an intense appreciation for unity. The literary record can support this claim (ya, and I know some will say the literary record does not support it...oy!)-the literary record can be presented in such a way to support the claim. Has anyone else considered this sort of post-processual/interpretive, sort of cognitive, sort of polyarchaeological research question ? ALB

MortalWombat

The problem with this statement is that what is now considered "orthodox" wasn't defined as such until about the 4th century, when the branch of Christianity that "won" (by virtue of becoming the state religion of the Roman empire under Constantine) got to define all others as "non-orthodox" or "heretical." In the first century, all of the various flavors of Christianity probably thought that their brand was "orthodox" and all others were not.

Broozr

Do you presume that all readers of these threads see things as you do ? You are wrong. Not everything has changed. Some things that are orthodox or catholic or true today were true in the first century as well. You may have a problem with my statement but others may not. So, just because you say there is a problem with it, that doesn't mean there is a problem with it. YOU (and others who agree with you) may, but I don't. I doubt you are a Church historian and if you are I wonder if you are professional. You are missing the point of the inquiry entirely or else just chose not to seek to help me formulate an answer. In the first century, there was something about unity among believers. Sure each sect thought they were correct or orthodox. The one that won as you say was around at the start albeit in a less formalized fashion. What archaeological evidence is there for that Church that won ? Perhaps you don't know and that is fine. I am focused here as I hope you are too.

Broozr

And by the way, Christianity did not become the state religion under Constantine; it was elevated to a status whereby it was EQUAL with other religions of Roman culture by him. Theodosius was the emperor who made Christianity the religion of the empire.

MortalWombat

Maybe you should be posting on a Christian website instead of an atheist website if you want people to agree with you about theology. Except for the Constantine comment (I'll agree with you that it was Theodosius who officially made Christianity the state religion at the exclusion of all others and not Constantine; Constantine only set the stage for it), I stand by my statements.