Religion and Theology

Religion and Theology

Introduction

The relation between religion and government can be regarded as something intricate and dynamic. These two areas produce significant consequences. This relationship was further highlighted during the reign of Roman Emperor, Constantine. Constantine (February 27, 280 AD-May 22, 337 AD) was the first Roman emperor to profess Christianity. His full name was Flavius Valerius Constantinus. He ruled Rome for a time period of 306-337 AD. During his reign, Christianity became one of the dominant religions of the Roman Empire. He was the one to initiate Christianity for the evolution of the empire. He promoted the growth of Byzantine and medieval culture of the West by providing the impulse for a Christian culture (Drake, 1988).

However, the historians remain in uncertainty as why he favored Christianity as there was no significant consensus among scholars. The theologians and Historians, on the other hand, have presented an argumentative analysis over which form of Christianity he practiced and subscribed. His conversion to Christianity had been regarded as one of the turning points of the religion Christianity. This has been known as either Constantinian Shift or the Peace of the Church by the historians. The Christian Church and the Roman State gained control and influenced each other as a result of principles that were set by Constantine. This allowed and further maintained control of the people by a mutual dependent order (Cochrane, 1957). Conversion of Constantine to Christianity resulted in the beginning of Christendom and end of persecution and affliction of Christians (Gonzalez J., Vol 1).

Thus, at the beginning of the 4th century Constantine introduced a revolutionary transformation and amalgamated the civil state and Christian Church as one. Moreover, a religion that was considered as dangerous and was persecuted terribly became the substantial religion and was integrated into the empire's life. Most of the emperors who reigned Rome after Constantine were Christians. Under the influence of such emperors, Christianity became the official religion of Rome. Furthermore, Christianity power and dominance was marked by the buildings and church services which promoted this religion.

Discussion

How did Constantine influence Christianity and Catholism?

Constantine made Christianity as one of the official faiths of Rome. He established the first Catholic Church in Rome and became it pope. Christendom began with Constantine's victor in a battle. This battle is remarked as a milestone in the history, occurring about 1700 years ago. In this battle, Constantine met another emperor Maxentius. This meeting proved the embrace of Constantine to Christianity on October, 312, Constantine defeated Maxentius in the remarkable battle that spanned over Tiber. Such was the start of Constantine's journey to Christianity from Paganism.

Before Constantine conversion to Christianity, Christians were mistreated and were persecuted by the Roman Emperors. These persecutions were peaked during the reign of Diocletian (284-305) and Galerius (305-311). The Christians then suffered from the most horrible phase of torture by the pagan Roman state. These sufferings continued till the reign of Constantine (312), With Constantine's leadership, the religion Christianity began to flourish and spread throughout Western and Eastern ...