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The “Triumph” of The “Triumph” of ChristianityChristianity
Theodosius makes Theodosius makes Christianity the Roman State Christianity the Roman State
Religion in 392 ADReligion in 392 AD
““Spiritual oikoumene” = Spiritual oikoumene” = “catholic”“catholic”
I. Religious Options in the I. Religious Options in the Roman WorldRoman World
ChristianityChristianity JudaismJudaism
-- “zealots”-- “zealots” Roman Pagan ReligionRoman Pagan Religion Philosophical ReligionsPhilosophical Religions
-- Plotinus and Neo--- Plotinus and Neo-PlatonismPlatonism
Mystery ReligionsMystery Religions
--Mithraism--Mithraism
--Cults of Isis and --Cults of Isis and CybeleCybele
II. First Century II. First Century ChristianityChristianity
Secretive, Urban Secretive, Urban ReligionReligion
In Roman eyes, In Roman eyes, immoral and impureimmoral and impure
In Roman eyes, illegal In Roman eyes, illegal and seditiousand seditious
In Roman eyes, In Roman eyes, atheisticatheistic
Theologically diverse Theologically diverse Jewish sectJewish sect
Active participation Active participation by womenby women
II. First Century II. First Century Christianity (cont)Christianity (cont)
Apparently disorderly Apparently disorderly and disorganizedand disorganized
Persecuted periodically Persecuted periodically by the Roman by the Roman governmentgovernment
-- Nero (64 AD)-- Nero (64 AD)
--Decius (249-251 AD)--Decius (249-251 AD)
--Diocletian (303 AD)--Diocletian (303 AD) The Christian ResponseThe Christian Response And yet, very vital, And yet, very vital,
courageous faithcourageous faith
III. How Does this Religion III. How Does this Religion Eventually Triumph?Eventually Triumph?
Similar to the popular Similar to the popular mystery religionsmystery religions
Traditional Roman Traditional Roman religion was brittle and religion was brittle and unfulfillingunfulfilling
Became more attractive Became more attractive over time to Roman over time to Roman culture and sensibilitiesculture and sensibilities
Offered the Roman Offered the Roman world a cause to world a cause to promote and pursuepromote and pursue
Provided Romans with a Provided Romans with a sense of communitysense of community
IV. Early Christian IV. Early Christian Doctrinal DiversityDoctrinal Diversity
The canon of Scripture The canon of Scripture was not set until 325 was not set until 325 AD at the Council of AD at the Council of NiceaNicea
Unlike Judaism and the Unlike Judaism and the traditional religions of traditional religions of Greece and Rome, Greece and Rome, Christianity placed Christianity placed belief or creed on the belief or creed on the same level with same level with practicepractice
Christian “orthodoxy”Christian “orthodoxy”--Monotheism and the --Monotheism and the TrinityTrinity--The Nature of Jesus--The Nature of Jesus
IV. Early Christian IV. Early Christian Doctrinal Diversity (cont)Doctrinal Diversity (cont)
The teachings of Arius The teachings of Arius (260-336 AD)(260-336 AD)
Gnostic TeachingGnostic Teaching--physical and spiritual --physical and spiritual dualismdualism--evil Old Testament --evil Old Testament godgod--salvation comes --salvation comes through knowledge through knowledge (“gnosis”)(“gnosis”)--rejection of earthly --rejection of earthly spiritual authorityspiritual authority
JudaizersJudaizers
V. Early Christian V. Early Christian ControversiesControversies
Circumcision: Circumcision: ActsActs 15 15 Gender of God and Gender of God and
gender roles in the gender roles in the churchchurch
The Resurrection: The Resurrection: Physical or Spiritual?Physical or Spiritual?
Authority Authority Structure/Evolving Structure/Evolving Organization of the Organization of the ChurchChurch--Apostolic Succession--Apostolic Succession--Growing power of the --Growing power of the Roman bishopRoman bishop--Leo I (440-461 AD)--Leo I (440-461 AD)--Gregory I (590-604 AD)--Gregory I (590-604 AD)
V. Early Christian V. Early Christian Controversies (cont)Controversies (cont)
Impact of Impact of Increasing Increasing HierarchyHierarchy
What is the official What is the official Scripture?Scripture?
Controversy over Controversy over the doctrine of the the doctrine of the TrinityTrinity
--Monophysitism--Monophysitism
V. Early Christian V. Early Christian Controversies (cont)Controversies (cont)
Attitude toward Greco-Attitude toward Greco-Roman cultureRoman culture
--Opposition to classical --Opposition to classical heritage (West)heritage (West)
--Affirmation of classical --Affirmation of classical heritage (East-Clement heritage (East-Clement of Alexandria)of Alexandria)
--Notion of --Notion of “praeperatio”“praeperatio”
--Significance of --Significance of Jerome’s Jerome’s VulgateVulgate
V. Early Christian V. Early Christian Controversies (cont)Controversies (cont)
The Importance of the The Importance of the MassMass
--Disloyalty during --Disloyalty during persecutionpersecution
--The Challenge of the --The Challenge of the DonatistsDonatists
--Augustinian position --Augustinian position adopted at the Council adopted at the Council of Carthage (411 AD)of Carthage (411 AD)
--Mass becomes the --Mass becomes the Church’s weaponChurch’s weapon
VI. Impact of Christian VI. Impact of Christian Doctrinal Controversies Doctrinal Controversies
Makes Christianity more attractive Makes Christianity more attractive to the Romansto the Romans
Legalization (313 AD) and Legalization (313 AD) and “Triumph” (392 AD) of Christianity “Triumph” (392 AD) of Christianity led to the issue of governmental led to the issue of governmental influence on religion—the problem of influence on religion—the problem of the State versus the Churchthe State versus the Church
VII. The “Acculturation” of VII. The “Acculturation” of ChristianityChristianity
Christian ideas and Christian ideas and practices reflected practices reflected imperial political imperial political realitiesrealities
Similar beliefs Similar beliefs assigned to spirits and assigned to spirits and demonsdemons
Assimilating Diocesan Assimilating Diocesan organizationorganization
Pagan temples become Pagan temples become Christian churchesChristian churches
Assimilation of Roman Assimilation of Roman pagan holidayspagan holidays
The Celtic Cross and a The Celtic Cross and a pagan silver spoonpagan silver spoon
VIII. Why Did this VIII. Why Did this Acculturation Occur?Acculturation Occur?
Result of mass tribal Result of mass tribal conversionsconversions
New converts bring New converts bring cultural baggage with cultural baggage with themthem
Christian missionaries Christian missionaries tried to build bridges of tried to build bridges of belief and practice toward belief and practice toward pagan religion to ease the pagan religion to ease the difficulty of conversiondifficulty of conversion
General church General church acceptance of Greco-acceptance of Greco-Roman cultureRoman culture
IX. Christianity and IX. Christianity and Classical Humanism: Classical Humanism:
Alternative WorldviewsAlternative Worldviews Both share an appreciation for Both share an appreciation for
individual dignity and libertyindividual dignity and liberty Otherworldly purposes vs. worldly Otherworldly purposes vs. worldly
pursuit of excellencepursuit of excellence Linear vs. Cyclical concepts of historyLinear vs. Cyclical concepts of history Revelation vs. ReasonRevelation vs. Reason Different views of the nature of GodDifferent views of the nature of God Different approaches to justice and Different approaches to justice and
self-realizationself-realization
X. Augustine of X. Augustine of HippoHippo
Synthesizer of Christianity Synthesizer of Christianity and Greco-Roman Cultureand Greco-Roman Culture
A. His Life (354-430 AD)A. His Life (354-430 AD) Christian mother and Christian mother and
pagan fatherpagan father Well-versed in Latin Well-versed in Latin
classicsclassics Early spiritual Early spiritual
experimentation: experimentation: gnosticism and eastern gnosticism and eastern religionsreligions
Severe guilt over his Severe guilt over his perceived immoralityperceived immorality
Conversion experience Conversion experience (387 AD)(387 AD)
Influential bishop in the Influential bishop in the North African seacoast North African seacoast town of Hippotown of Hippo
B. His WritingsB. His Writings ConfessionsConfessions—his —his
autobiographyautobiography The City of GodThe City of God
----Motivation for writing Motivation for writing the bookthe book--World is divided into --World is divided into two citiestwo cities--Priority of the City of --Priority of the City of GodGod--Earthly city must be --Earthly city must be ordered by the Church’s ordered by the Church’s authority and teachingauthority and teaching----A divine purpose in A divine purpose in the events of historythe events of history
C. His DoctrinesC. His Doctrines Original SinOriginal Sin
--Contradicting --Contradicting PelagiusPelagius--Leads to the Doctrine --Leads to the Doctrine of Limboof Limbo
PredestinationPredestination Rejection of Sex as Rejection of Sex as
Personal PleasurePersonal Pleasure--Origen (185-254 AD)--Origen (185-254 AD)
Superiority of Sacred Superiority of Sacred to Secular authorityto Secular authority
““Baptism” of Baptism” of humanistic rationalismhumanistic rationalism
XI. The “Triumph” of XI. The “Triumph” of Christianity Christianity
InstitutionalizedInstitutionalized
A. LegalizationA. Legalization
Occurs in 313 AD Occurs in 313 AD with the Edict of with the Edict of MilanMilan
Prompted by the Prompted by the conversion of conversion of ConstantineConstantine
Judicial authority Judicial authority given to Bishopsgiven to Bishops
Lord’s Day becomes Lord’s Day becomes Holy Day (321 AD)Holy Day (321 AD)
A. Legalization (cont)A. Legalization (cont) Imperial revenue Imperial revenue
subsidized the Churchsubsidized the Church Church historian Church historian
Eusebius argues for the Eusebius argues for the inevitability of Imperial inevitability of Imperial approvalapproval
Constantine and Constantine and successors gradually successors gradually increase imperial increase imperial support for Christianitysupport for Christianity--Church of the Holy --Church of the Holy WisdomWisdom--Soldiers, women and --Soldiers, women and the Churchthe Church--Julian and pagan --Julian and pagan restorationrestoration
B. “Triumph”B. “Triumph” Removal of the altar to Removal of the altar to
Nike in the Senate Nike in the Senate (382)(382)
Ambrose’s humiliation Ambrose’s humiliation of Emperor Theodosiusof Emperor Theodosius
Theodosius officially Theodosius officially bans public support for bans public support for pagan cults (391 AD)pagan cults (391 AD)
Becomes the foundation Becomes the foundation of power and wealth for of power and wealth for the medieval churchthe medieval church
Persecution of Jews and Persecution of Jews and paganspagans
A. HermiticA. Hermitic
The concept of The concept of monasticismmonasticism
Gnostic in flavor—Gnostic in flavor—appears first in the appears first in the East, especially East, especially EgyptEgypt
First known First known Christian monk was Christian monk was Saint AnthonySaint Anthony
Monastic motivation Monastic motivation in Egyptin Egypt
A. Hermitic (cont)A. Hermitic (cont) Less of this type of Less of this type of
monasticism in the monasticism in the WestWest
Excessive and strange Excessive and strange behavior—Pillar Saintsbehavior—Pillar Saints
Transition PhaseTransition Phase Holiness associated Holiness associated
with supernatural with supernatural benefitsbenefits
Monasticism replaces Monasticism replaces martyrdom after martyrdom after legalizationlegalization
B. Communal—5B. Communal—5thth and 6 and 6thth Centuries, ADCenturies, AD
Order and uniformity Order and uniformity grows in monasticism as grows in monasticism as it had in the Church as it had in the Church as largelarge
First successful cenobitic First successful cenobitic monastery organized by monastery organized by the Egyptian Pachomiusthe Egyptian Pachomius
This type of monasticism This type of monasticism was more adaptable to was more adaptable to western Europewestern Europe
Copying sacred and Copying sacred and secular texts: secular texts: Cassiodorus initiated this Cassiodorus initiated this activity first in Italy (540)activity first in Italy (540)
B. Communal (cont)B. Communal (cont) The Benedictine Rule The Benedictine Rule
(529)(529) Medieval schools and Medieval schools and
hospitalshospitals Agricultural innovatorsAgricultural innovators The importance of The importance of
silence and prayersilence and prayer The practice of The practice of
oblationoblation Background of those Background of those
who joined who joined monasteriesmonasteries
B. Communal (cont)B. Communal (cont) Note Roman traits of Note Roman traits of
flexibility and flexibility and practicalitypracticality
Great fighters of Great fighters of HeresyHeresy
Great missionariesGreat missionaries
--Augustine--Augustine
--Martin of Tours--Martin of Tours
--Patrick--Patrick Internal opposition to Internal opposition to
monasticismmonasticism
XIII. Christian ArtXIII. Christian Art Location of early Location of early
Christian art: The Christian art: The CatacombsCatacombs
““Orans”Orans” Christian art was often Christian art was often
very metaphoricalvery metaphorical Controversy over art and Controversy over art and
sculpture in the Churchsculpture in the Church This controversy This controversy
ultimately divides the ultimately divides the Church East from West:Church East from West:--East: “iconophiles”--East: “iconophiles”--West: “iconoclasts”--West: “iconoclasts”