Discuss the transformation of the early Jesus movement into an Religious Empire after 325 CE.
Write a 300 word response giving your reflections about upsides and downsides of the Imperialization of Christianity in the Roman Empire under Constantine and his successors.
Give a brief review or summary of the information from the textbook.
Give you own reaction to the transformation of Christianity into Christendom. Do you agree with the textbook? Disagree? Do you think that becoming the official approved religion of the Empire was helpful and healthy for Christianity? or harmful?
Support your argument with evidence and examples.
Sample Solution
The early Jesus movement began as a small, localized sect of Judaism and grew rapidly throughout the Roman Empire from its inception in the 1st century CE. By 325 CE it had developed into an organized religious empire with a centralized hierarchy of bishops, priests and deacons led by the Bishop of Rome or the Pope. This transformation was partly due to the conversion to Christianity of Constantine I following his victory at Milvian Bridge in 312 CE. Under Constantine’s reign, Christianity went from being an obscure faith to becoming officially recognized by Rome with legal protection and state resources given to Christian churches and clergy.
Sample Solution
The early Jesus movement began as a small, localized sect of Judaism and grew rapidly throughout the Roman Empire from its inception in the 1st century CE. By 325 CE it had developed into an organized religious empire with a centralized hierarchy of bishops, priests and deacons led by the Bishop of Rome or the Pope. This transformation was partly due to the conversion to Christianity of Constantine I following his victory at Milvian Bridge in 312 CE. Under Constantine’s reign, Christianity went from being an obscure faith to becoming officially recognized by Rome with legal protection and state resources given to Christian churches and clergy.
