Why did christianity become the religion of western civilization?
It had a message that appealed to a lot of people. When it caught on in Rome, it was spread throughout Europe.
Thank you, I know it has to do with the ruler Constantine as well, do you have any more information about him or this question? I need to write a short paper about it. Thank you!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/why/legitimization.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great_and_Christianity
Those kind of help but I don't know how to only include the main points because there's alot of information. What are the most important things I should mention?
When you write a "short" paper, you still need to read a lot. Then you condense what you've learned to make the points that you think are important.
It only has to be about 3 paragraphs so like a page. I really don't know how to start it, can you please help?
Christianity became the dominant religion of Western civilization for a variety of historical, cultural, and political reasons. Here's an explanation of some key factors that contributed to its rise:
1. Historical Context: Christianity originated in the eastern Mediterranean and spread throughout the Roman Empire during the 1st century AD. It gained traction due to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the efforts of early Christian missionaries. With the Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in the 4th century, it gained significant state support, leading to its widespread adoption.
2. Political Influence: The influence of political leaders played a crucial role in the establishment of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine's Edict of Milan in 313 AD granted religious tolerance to Christians, and later, Emperor Theodosius I declared Christianity the official religion of the empire in 380 AD. These political decisions effectively solidified Christianity's position within Western civilization.
3. Cultural Adaptation: As Christianity spread, it absorbed and adapted elements of local cultures and traditions, making it more accessible to people from diverse backgrounds. This process of assimilation fostered its acceptance among different communities, leading to its integration into different societies.
4. Conversion and Evangelization Efforts: The efforts of missionaries and evangelists played a significant role in the spread of Christianity. Missionaries like Paul the Apostle, Augustine of Hippo, and Patrick of Ireland were instrumental in converting people to Christianity and establishing churches in various regions of Western civilization.
5. Collapse of the Roman Empire: After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, the Catholic Church emerged as a strong institution that provided stability, education, and social order during a time of political and social upheaval. This significantly contributed to the continuing influence of Christianity in the post-Roman Western world.
It's important to note that while Christianity became the dominant religion in Western civilization, the process did not occur uniformly or without resistance. There were periods of conflict, religious schisms, and competing religious movements that shaped the complex religious landscape of Western civilization.