04-18-2005, 07:28 PM
Hi
Constantine only converted to Christianity on his deathbed, so there are doubts about the strength of his faith amongst historians. One reason for being pro Christianity was the fact that his rivals in the post Diocletian powerstruggles all were rabid persecutors of Christians.
His mother, the empress Helena certainly was very much a christian, responsible for "finding" many of the major relics, the True Cross amongst other things ^_^
I would say that there were two main reasons for Constantine to support Christianity:
-Constantine shifted the centre of the Empire to the east, by founding Constantinople, and in the eastern part of the Empire Christianity was well established amongst the general population.
- The Roman Empire needed a new core ideology, since worship of the deified emporers and the old gods didn't enthuse the people anymore. Christianity gave a new feeling of togethernes and helped establish a sense of difference against the external enemies; the Sassanid Empire being in the main fireworshippers and the Germanic tribes being eiter oldfashioned pagans or, if christians, supporters of the Arrian heresy.
Hope that helped.
good karma
Constantine only converted to Christianity on his deathbed, so there are doubts about the strength of his faith amongst historians. One reason for being pro Christianity was the fact that his rivals in the post Diocletian powerstruggles all were rabid persecutors of Christians.
His mother, the empress Helena certainly was very much a christian, responsible for "finding" many of the major relics, the True Cross amongst other things ^_^
I would say that there were two main reasons for Constantine to support Christianity:
-Constantine shifted the centre of the Empire to the east, by founding Constantinople, and in the eastern part of the Empire Christianity was well established amongst the general population.
- The Roman Empire needed a new core ideology, since worship of the deified emporers and the old gods didn't enthuse the people anymore. Christianity gave a new feeling of togethernes and helped establish a sense of difference against the external enemies; the Sassanid Empire being in the main fireworshippers and the Germanic tribes being eiter oldfashioned pagans or, if christians, supporters of the Arrian heresy.
Hope that helped.
good karma
Prophecy of Deimos
âThe world doesnât end with water, fire, or cold. Iâve divined the coming apocalypse. It ends with tentacles!â
âThe world doesnât end with water, fire, or cold. Iâve divined the coming apocalypse. It ends with tentacles!â