The “Triumph” of Christianity

1. The “Triumph” of Christianity Theodosius makes Christianity the Roman State Religion in 392 AD “Spiritual oikoumene” = “catholic”

2. I. Religious Options in the Roman World • Christianity • Judaism -- “zealots” • Roman Pagan Religion • Philosophical Religions -- Plotinus and Neo-Platonism • Mystery Religions --Mithraism --Cults of Isis and Cybele

3. II. First Century Christianity • Secretive, Urban Religion • In Roman eyes, immoral and impure • In Roman eyes, illegal and seditious • In Roman eyes, atheistic • Theologically diverse Jewish sect • Active participation by women

4. II. First Century Christianity (cont) • Apparently disorderly and disorganized • Persecuted periodically by the Roman government -- Nero (64 AD) --Decius (249-251 AD) --Diocletian (303 AD) • The Christian Response • And yet, very vital, courageous faith

5. III. How Does this Religion Eventually Triumph? • Similar to the popular mystery religions • Traditional Roman religion was brittle and unfulfilling • Became more attractive over time to Roman culture and sensibilities • Offered the Roman world a cause to promote and pursue • Provided Romans with a sense of community

6. IV. Early Christian Doctrinal Diversity • The canon of Scripture was not set until 325 AD at the Council of Nicea • Unlike Judaism and the traditional religions of Greece and Rome, Christianity placed belief or creed on the same level with practice • Christian “orthodoxy” --Monotheism and the Trinity --The Nature of Jesus

7. IV. Early Christian Doctrinal Diversity (cont) • The teachings of Arius (260-336 AD) • Gnostic Teaching --physical and spiritual dualism --evil Old Testament god --salvation comes through knowledge (“gnosis”) --rejection of earthly spiritual authority • Judaizers

8. V. Early Christian Controversies • Circumcision: Acts 15 • Gender of God and gender roles in the church • The Resurrection: Physical or Spiritual? • Authority Structure/Evolving Organization of the Church --Apostolic Succession --Growing power of the Roman bishop --Leo I (440-461 AD) --Gregory I (590-604 AD)

9. V. Early Christian Controversies (cont) • Impact of Increasing Hierarchy • What is the official Scripture? • Controversy over the doctrine of the Trinity --Monophysitism

10. V. Early Christian Controversies (cont) • Attitude toward Greco-Roman culture --Opposition to classical heritage (West) --Affirmation of classical heritage (East-Clement of Alexandria) --Notion of “praeperatio” --Significance of Jerome’s Vulgate

11. V. Early Christian Controversies (cont) • The Importance of the Mass --Disloyalty during persecution --The Challenge of the Donatists --Augustinian position adopted at the Council of Carthage (411 AD) --Mass becomes the Church’s weapon

12. VI. Impact of Christian Doctrinal Controversies • Makes Christianity more attractive to the Romans • Legalization (313 AD) and “Triumph” (392 AD) of Christianity led to the issue of governmental influence on religion—the problem of the State versus the Church

13. VII. The “Acculturation” of Christianity • Christian ideas and practices reflected imperial political realities • Similar beliefs assigned to spirits and demons • Assimilating Diocesan organization • Pagan temples become Christian churches • Assimilation of Roman pagan holidays • The Celtic Cross and a pagan silver spoon

14. VIII. Why Did this Acculturation Occur? • Result of mass tribal conversions • New converts bring cultural baggage with them • Christian missionaries tried to build bridges of belief and practice toward pagan religion to ease the difficulty of conversion • General church acceptance of Greco-Roman culture

15. IX. Christianity and Classical Humanism: Alternative Worldviews • Both share an appreciation for individual dignity and liberty • Otherworldly purposes vs. worldly pursuit of excellence • Linear vs. Cyclical concepts of history • Revelation vs. Reason • Different views of the nature of God • Different approaches to justice and self-realization

16. X. Augustine of Hippo Synthesizer of Christianity and Greco-Roman Culture

17. A. His Life (354-430 AD) • Christian mother and pagan father • Well-versed in Latin classics • Early spiritual experimentation: gnosticism and eastern religions • Severe guilt over his perceived immorality • Conversion experience (387 AD) • Influential bishop in the North African seacoast town of Hippo

18. B. His Writings • Confessions—his autobiography • The City of God --Motivation for writing the book --World is divided into two cities --Priority of the City of God --Earthly city must be ordered by the Church’s authority and teaching --A divine purpose in the events of history

19. C. His Doctrines • Original Sin --Contradicting Pelagius --Leads to the Doctrine of Limbo • Predestination • Rejection of Sex as Personal Pleasure --Origen (185-254 AD) • Superiority of Sacred to Secular authority • “Baptism” of humanistic rationalism

20. XI. The “Triumph” of Christianity Institutionalized

21. A. Legalization • Occurs in 313 AD with the Edict of Milan • Prompted by the conversion of Constantine • Judicial authority given to Bishops • Lord’s Day becomes Holy Day (321 AD)

22. A. Legalization (cont) • Imperial revenue subsidized the Church • Church historian Eusebius argues for the inevitability of Imperial approval • Constantine and successors gradually increase imperial support for Christianity --Church of the Holy Wisdom --Soldiers, women and the Church --Julian and pagan restoration

23. B. “Triumph” • Removal of the altar to Nike in the Senate (382) • Ambrose’s humiliation of Emperor Theodosius • Theodosius officially bans public support for pagan cults (391 AD) • Becomes the foundation of power and wealth for the medieval church • Persecution of Jews and pagans

24. XII. The Pattern of Early Christian Monasticism

25. A. Hermitic • The concept of monasticism • Gnostic in flavor—appears first in the East, especially Egypt • First known Christian monk was Saint Anthony • Monastic motivation in Egypt

26. A. Hermitic (cont) • Less of this type of monasticism in the West • Excessive and strange behavior—Pillar Saints • Transition Phase • Holiness associated with supernatural benefits • Monasticism replaces martyrdom after legalization

27. B. Communal—5th and 6th Centuries, AD • Order and uniformity grows in monasticism as it had in the Church as large • First successful cenobitic monastery organized by the Egyptian Pachomius • This type of monasticism was more adaptable to western Europe • Copying sacred and secular texts: Cassiodorus initiated this activity first in Italy (540)

28. B. Communal (cont) • The Benedictine Rule (529) • Medieval schools and hospitals • Agricultural innovators • The importance of silence and prayer • The practice of oblation • Background of those who joined monasteries

29. B. Communal (cont) • Note Roman traits of flexibility and practicality • Great fighters of Heresy • Great missionaries --Augustine --Martin of Tours --Patrick • Internal opposition to monasticism

30. XIII. Christian Art • Location of early Christian art: The Catacombs • “Orans” • Christian art was often very metaphorical • Controversy over art and sculpture in the Church • This controversy ultimately divides the Church East from West: --East: “iconophiles” --West: “iconoclasts”