Essay - Constantine Outline Introduction Christianity Before Legalization Legalization of Christianity Effects...

Constantine

*****

Introduction

Christianity before legalization

Legalization of Christianity

***** of legalization

Potential negative consequences of legalization

Conclusions

Introduction

***** Constantine legalizing Christianity and Christian worship with the Edict ***** Milan, Christianity became a recognized religion in ***** Rom*****n Empire. With his act, Constantine was able to take ***** out of the illegitimacy it was in ***** pave ***** way for its accession to the position of the dom*****ant ***** in the world in terms of geographical expansion and number ***** faithful adepts. In many *****s, through legalizing Christianity, ***** paved ***** way for the future of the Church.

On ***** other hand, t***** recogni*****ion also paved the way for a ***** ***** projection of Christianity, that of its intrinsic continuous relationship with royalty and ***** a moral justification ***** secular deeds. This has been persistent throughout ***** Middle Ages, but ***** had significant reverberations in our days as well (Pope Pius XII lack of response dur*****g the Holocaust could have been seen as a potential tacit acceptance of the fact).

This essay will aim ***** analyze ***** Christian status before Constantine's act of ***** *****, as a premise ***** defending the idea that his act paved the way for subsequent Christian evolution. The eventual recognition of Christianity and its path ever since ***** be subsequently presented, along with ***** potential negative outcomes ***** may have arisen.

***** essay will determine that, while the period preceding ***** legalization of Christianity, ***** religion found the resources to consolidate ***** own faith, char*****eristics and place among ***** ***** religions, with Constantine's recognition, its path opened for a bivalent participation in worldly matters, both ***** the case of simple individuals, as the case of nation - states.

***** before legalization

Initially, Christianity develops around the personality of Jesus Christ, more as "a movement ***** people around a single ch*****rismatic teacher or preacher." The moment of Jesus Christ's death transf*****ms the ***** of people into a sect, because these are individuals that have ***** ***** to transform real life happenings into something bearing a religious ********** mystical meaning. ***** Christian mythology and cosmogony is th***** born, ***** ***** the main writings of the new religion.

Starting with Paul, the new religion begins to spread in the Mediterranean *****a, into all areas ***** the Roman *****. Many have pointed to the second century AD as ***** true moment when Christianity defines itself as a religion different from Judaism. Due to the fact ***** this is a defining century, Christianity is fragmented during this time between different sects and ide*****, although it is able to become a un*****ary voice at the end of this period.

The 3rd century AD is generally referred to as the confrontational ***** for *****. Th***** is ***** this is the century when the Roman Empire acknowledges ***** ex*****tence of Christianity, as ***** as the potential danger that this might bring about, and starts its persecution against it. Whether or not the large number ***** martyrs actually existed or whe*****r they were