No, I don't believe Christianity, by itself, led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Just as in the collapse of the Bronze Age; it's rarely or never the case, that a single incident or shift in a society, is the cause of major societal collapse. Several factors come together; such as climate change and/or a series of natural catastrophes, which lead to break-downs in supply chains, and critical shortages. Political and social instability is another cause, through wars, loss of faith in leadership, unsustainable division of wealth, or in the case of climate change - mass migrations of people, due to famine and wars. And, it can happen quickly, under the right conditions, or it can take more time. The Western 'half' of the Roman Empire had many issues the East did not, And, the East had advantages the West did not. Just my opinion. :)
The rise of Christianity amidst the tyranny of Roman Empire probably had an inevitability about it.-the mystique of Christianity along with it's galvanising power probably proved to powerful against Roman tyranny that became too corrupt and imploded.
1) religio does not mean binding together... If we look up at TIte Livy it is given that this term initially meant a kind of fear (this information can be found and analysed in St Croix's famous book Christianity and Rome, on the chapter about the Religion in the Roman World) 2) For the love of God, mos MAIORUM (of the ancestors) and not malorum (of the ... bad) 3) In the same book mentioned above but also in the correspondance of Pliny the Younger with Traian it is clearly stated that the refuse of the imperial cult did NOT consist a motif of condamnation. Moreover the apologetis sources suggest that the main accusation was the identification of Christians as Christians (Nomen Christianus). A sacrifice to the gods was only an option to escape persecution, when ascribed.
After giving the same rights to plebeians that patricians had and allowing immigration, the ancient Roman religion that was based on ancestor worship couldn't provide the previous cohesion and unity. That's because people were not worshipping the same ancestors. Christianity could only take over when the ancestral religion was weakened and shortly after the Roman Empire fell.
That may have had an impact, but immigrants were living in Rome for many years before Christianity. Not to mention, the Roman Empire encompassed multiple parts of the world where people were living with different cultures and religions.
1) Essentially, "superstition" meant that it was NEW. not old, not traditional, not tested by time. Christianity was not persecuted initially because, as you said correctly, it was considered part of the religion of the Jews. but note that the Jews were in fact exempt from the imperial cult. but given the ancient character of the religion of the Jews, the Roman empire allowed it to exist. the problem would arise, sometime early in the 2nd century, when it became clear that Christianity was something NEW, not old, and therefore a "superstition." 2) There were in fact TWO empire-wide systematic persecutions: under Decius (250s) and Diocletian (300s). These persecutions would occasion crises among the Christians of the empire. In any case, it became clear at some point that the Roman empire had many Christians so that persecuting and killing them would in fact destroy the Roman empire itself. The decision arrived at by Constantine, couched in the language of conversion, was in fact a political decision. To destroy Christianity was to destroy the empire itself, given how there were now many Christians on all the strata of the state and society. 3) Christian "anti-pagan" atrocities happened largely with the proclamation of Christianity as the "imperial religion" by Theodosius. Given the memory of Julian the Apostate's earlier efforts to reverse the tide of Christianization of the empire and the restoration of the old religious systems, it was inevitable that some Christians, mostly in the eastern half of the empire, would themselves become persecutors. I think you need to be a little bit more careful with making sweeping statements; the need for nuance and accuracy is particularly important when dealing with the history of anything.
I find it interesting that you linked christianity (worship of the christos) and mathraism as superstitions of Rome, while mithraistic teachers of today see them as one and the same.
Christianity actually extended the life of the Roman Empire to the East and preserved it in the West despite Rome’s own failing. The eastern part became the “Byzantine” Empire and the west the idea of Rome became an ideal in the Holy Roman Empire. Both empires, needless to say, are very Christian.
“You see, Christians were not persecuted for their faith, they were persecuted because of their faith which didn’t allow them to practice what they considered idolatry” LOL
Yes it absolutely did. They were subverted into worshipping the Jewish god and pacified to love their enemies and turn the other cheek. They lost their ways, essentially.
Licentius was left out of the persecution of Christians in the early 4th century. Also, not mentioned was how "orthodox Christianity" was a departure from Biblical Christianity and how the Bible Christians were persecuted and marginalized by these false Christian institutions. Christianity did not lead to the fall of the Roman empire. It was apostate Christianity that led to its fall as it gradually adhered more and more to the corruptions of the culture of Roman politics, establishing gross forms of hypocrisy which offended many.
Your life matters, the message of the Bible is that Jesus Christ, the son of God was willingly punished for the evilness of humanity. He loved you so much that He was willing to die a horrible, brutal death. He was punished instead of us. But the only way to actually be forgiven and make His sacrifice effective in your life, is by believing in Him and trusting that His sacrifice was for you. Do so, and you will have eternal life. God loves you and so do I, God bless you.
Do you think Christianity led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire?
No, I don't believe Christianity, by itself, led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Just as in the collapse of the Bronze Age; it's rarely or never the case, that a single incident or shift in a society, is the cause of major societal collapse. Several factors come together; such as climate change and/or a series of natural catastrophes, which lead to break-downs in supply chains, and critical shortages. Political and social instability is another cause, through wars, loss of faith in leadership, unsustainable division of wealth, or in the case of climate change - mass migrations of people, due to famine and wars. And, it can happen quickly, under the right conditions, or it can take more time. The Western 'half' of the Roman Empire had many issues the East did not, And, the East had advantages the West did not. Just my opinion. :)
Not according to Saint Augustine. Read his City Of God.
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Great video, I always enjoy learning a little more about Rome, and I also enjoy your lovely face too I have to say!
Thanks so much, Daniel!
Never seen a video addressing Christianity in the Roman Empire to be such unbiased. Good work!
Thank you! We're so glad that you enjoyed it. 😊
The rise of Christianity amidst the tyranny of Roman Empire probably had an inevitability about it.-the mystique of Christianity along with it's galvanising power probably proved to powerful against Roman tyranny that became too corrupt and imploded.
Well said. We agree. Thanks for watching!
1) religio does not mean binding together... If we look up at TIte Livy it is given that this term initially meant a kind of fear (this information can be found and analysed in St Croix's famous book Christianity and Rome, on the chapter about the Religion in the Roman World)
2) For the love of God, mos MAIORUM (of the ancestors) and not malorum (of the ... bad)
3) In the same book mentioned above but also in the correspondance of Pliny the Younger with Traian it is clearly stated that the refuse of the imperial cult did NOT consist a motif of condamnation. Moreover the apologetis sources suggest that the main accusation was the identification of Christians as Christians (Nomen Christianus). A sacrifice to the gods was only an option to escape persecution, when ascribed.
After giving the same rights to plebeians that patricians had and allowing immigration, the ancient Roman religion that was based on ancestor worship couldn't provide the previous cohesion and unity. That's because people were not worshipping the same ancestors. Christianity could only take over when the ancestral religion was weakened and shortly after the Roman Empire fell.
That may have had an impact, but immigrants were living in Rome for many years before Christianity. Not to mention, the Roman Empire encompassed multiple parts of the world where people were living with different cultures and religions.
1) Essentially, "superstition" meant that it was NEW. not old, not traditional, not tested by time. Christianity was not persecuted initially because, as you said correctly, it was considered part of the religion of the Jews. but note that the Jews were in fact exempt from the imperial cult. but given the ancient character of the religion of the Jews, the Roman empire allowed it to exist. the problem would arise, sometime early in the 2nd century, when it became clear that Christianity was something NEW, not old, and therefore a "superstition." 2) There were in fact TWO empire-wide systematic persecutions: under Decius (250s) and Diocletian (300s). These persecutions would occasion crises among the Christians of the empire. In any case, it became clear at some point that the Roman empire had many Christians so that persecuting and killing them would in fact destroy the Roman empire itself. The decision arrived at by Constantine, couched in the language of conversion, was in fact a political decision. To destroy Christianity was to destroy the empire itself, given how there were now many Christians on all the strata of the state and society. 3) Christian "anti-pagan" atrocities happened largely with the proclamation of Christianity as the "imperial religion" by Theodosius. Given the memory of Julian the Apostate's earlier efforts to reverse the tide of Christianization of the empire and the restoration of the old religious systems, it was inevitable that some Christians, mostly in the eastern half of the empire, would themselves become persecutors. I think you need to be a little bit more careful with making sweeping statements; the need for nuance and accuracy is particularly important when dealing with the history of anything.
Do you have any books to recommend on early Christianity in Rome? It's a pretty fascinating subject.
I find it interesting that you linked christianity (worship of the christos) and mathraism as superstitions of Rome, while mithraistic teachers of today see them as one and the same.
Christianity actually extended the life of the Roman Empire to the East and preserved it in the West despite Rome’s own failing. The eastern part became the “Byzantine” Empire and the west the idea of Rome became an ideal in the Holy Roman Empire. Both empires, needless to say, are very Christian.
Thanks for watching!
@world history Encyclopedia
Thanks for the informations!
Our pleasure!
THANK YOU
You're so welcome. 😊
The Christian evolution in Rome is a classic example of a emagent property
True. Thanks for watching!
“You see, Christians were not persecuted for their faith, they were persecuted because of their faith which didn’t allow them to practice what they considered idolatry” LOL
Please where Christians in Egypt and Maghreb persecuted by the Roman emperor too
Yes it absolutely did. They were subverted into worshipping the Jewish god and pacified to love their enemies and turn the other cheek. They lost their ways, essentially.
Thanks for watching!
Licentius was left out of the persecution of Christians in the early 4th century. Also, not mentioned was how "orthodox Christianity" was a departure from Biblical Christianity and how the Bible Christians were persecuted and marginalized by these false Christian institutions.
Christianity did not lead to the fall of the Roman empire. It was apostate Christianity that led to its fall as it gradually adhered more and more to the corruptions of the culture of Roman politics, establishing gross forms of hypocrisy which offended many.
Your life matters, the message of the Bible is that Jesus Christ, the son of God was willingly punished for the evilness of humanity. He loved you so much that He was willing to die a horrible, brutal death. He was punished instead of us. But the only way to actually be forgiven and make His sacrifice effective in your life, is by believing in Him and trusting that His sacrifice was for you. Do so, and you will have eternal life.
God loves you and so do I, God bless you.
Christinity still a superstitious