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

XII. The Pattern of Early XII. The Pattern of Early Christian MonasticismChristian Monasticism

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”