Christianity in Rome came into existence many years ago. However, the Christians have always wanted to win the non-believers to their side. Christians have always preached the gospel and try to live by the word. However, in Rome people were being forced into Christianity. So many people were converted into the religion leaving a small percentage of the non-believers. Christianity came to the rise in Rome after Constantine converted to it (Dunstan, William 125). There were proposed several strategies as to why Christianity grew and endured to be the most powerful religion. Over the years, many people have been able to embrace Christianity citing that it has brought cohesiveness and peace in the society.
There were several theories that tried to explain vast sprout of the religion. They entail; provision of alternative measures that would be used to evade the backward traditional ways of doing things. Christianity was seen as an improved avenue for solving and avoiding conflicts and crimes. The commandments provided a guideline on how Christians were expected to behave. It was against the Christian values to mistreat the other (Ekelund, Robert 256). The religion also embraced the social cohesiveness that helps in promotion of peace in the communities. There should be equal provision of social amenities and services since; the Bible states that,’’ love your neighbor as you love yourself”. The old governing ways were perceived to be unjust and, by embracing Christianity it would help eliminate the vice. It, therefore, necessitated the people to abandon their old ways of putting their interests first and forgetting about everyone else.
The other theory was a successor and conserver of traditional ideas. Diversity involved in Christianity was enormous, and it provided the Christians to relate and come to terms with the different cultures and attributes. The Christianity was against any discrimination and would, therefore, accommodate everyone. The issue of approving each other brought a lot of unity in Rome. The people would develop a sense of belonging because; they would easily associate themselves with the religion. It ensured that people learned from each other in relation to their good values (Stein, Rachel 219). The association promoted social, economic and political instability thereby; improving the living standards of the citizens.
Consequently, it resulted to more people moving in the religion as it gave them hope. People learnt to accept each other despite their differences. The groups they had formed before would later be abolished after the implementation of the Christianity values. The issue of identifying one person on the basis of tribal lines was a backward behavior that needed urgent amendments from the people.
The third theory provided was that Christians were Martians. People were ready to move from balanced way of beliefs to more complex beliefs. They had become tired of associating themselves with what they would easily see to fallacies. The religion is believed to have originated from the east. The people were willing to try out something new that was different from what they were used to. It is always good to change from some of the norms that seem not to add any value in our lives (Dunstan, William 63). Christianity brought the feeling of wanting to get something which one is not aware of what it will be. The curiosity that came with the new religion came in with a lot of force that everyone wanted to have a taste of it. Being labelled as aliens came with a lot of fame as one would easily be identified with the religion. Sometimes, would embrace most of the controversial issues not because of its importance but because of the recognition that comes with it.
Different people have different perceptions on the more convincing theory among the ones provided above. People can choose either theory and win depending on how well they support their ideas. The theories are applicable in different areas and can be used interchangeably to suit the question at hand. There were other reasons for the blossoming of Christianity that include; emulating the converts. Other people are just born to be followers, and they did not have a second though as to why they were converts ng to Christianity. Some joined because the others were joining. The other reason was the teaching given to the young ones. The children would then grow up knowing that Christian should be the religion to follow hence; becoming hard to convert to something else. The influence was so much, and since it had no negative impacts, there was no need to evade it.
However, the most convincing theory is the being the alternative to the classical practice. Everyone has the right to enjoy the natural resources in the nation. People were being harassed when using the rules and regulations that were used by the Roman Empire. People would be subjected to forced labor that was against their rights. No one is allowed to intimidate the other using the position one occupies (Ekelund, Robert 327). Many of the leaders were subjecting the citizens into torture and other inhumane acts that people were not happy about. To eradicate that, the citizens would accept Christianity rules and stay by them to convince the oppressors that what they were doing was wrong. Torture was against the teachings of the Christians.
The provision of the social services to everyone was a positive effect. The underprivileged faced numerous challenges. Lack of the basic needs, social amenities and other wants was the main problem. Providing the needy with the public facilities, it became easy for the people to accept the religion. Nevertheless, being mindful of the neighbors was a noble act that showed that humans respected the lives of the other (Judge, Edwin, and James 184). Helping in the social needs greatly contributed to the reduction of the social crimes that the unfortunate would indulge into while in search of their daily bread. People would find solace in Christianity as it showed that the selfless acts. Caring for each other contributed to the peace and unity in Rome thereby; the promotion of the political stability that resulted to the social and economic growth.
It would become very easy for the Christians to convince the others to join the religion. However, it would not be seen as a sing of luring the other religions to cross over. People were supposed to adhere to the people things that were building them and not tearing them apart. Giving credit to where it was due was the driving force (Brenda, Schildgen 65). Creating an environment that was suitable for human living is a most inspiring thing. Coming to the help of the sidelined people showed that it was a discriminatory religion. The benefits that came with Christianity led to many others yearning to convert to enjoy the same. It preached equality in the sharing of the available resources as Jesus distributed the bread and the fish He had.
The theory is the more convincing one as most people easily relate most of the things with the value they have in their lives. In the human race, the oppressive nature of the Roman Empires inflicted pain and suffering to the people rendering them unproductive in the various areas. It was easy for the people to embrace it, since; it was touching on their daily lives (Catherine, Hezser, 174). They had suffered for so long in terms of governance and the availability of the social amenities was a great reprieve for them. It was the best way to clasp as the government would not see it as boycott of their leadership. It was a polite and the best way to use to run away from being harassed as the Bible was against it.
Nevertheless, people should not be forced into Christianity as it is seen when Constantine converted. It is a personal choice one is entitled to make. The freedom of worship must be exercised by all the citizens. The government must be willing to protect the worshippers from harassment from some religions. Conversely, the religions where the leaders amass enormous wealth at the expense of the believers should be dealt with according to the law. The freedom of worship should be granted only if it is not infringing on the rights of the persons. There must be laws drafted and implemented that will help the religions not to act overboard. They purpose is to provide guidelines as how they should carry themselves in the public. They must also be respecting the values and norms of every human kind.
Work cited:
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Judge, Edwin A, and James R. Harrison. The First Christians in the Roman World: Augustan
and New Testament Essays. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008. Print.
Ekelund, Robert B, and Robert D. Tollison. Economic Origins of Roman Christianity. Chicago:
The University of Chicago Press, 2011. Print.
Stein, Rachel. New Perspectives on Environmental Justice: Gender, Sexuality, and Activism.
New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press, 2004. Internet resource.
Hezser, Catherine. The Social Structure of the Rabbinic Movement in Roman Palestine.
Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1997. Print.
Schildgen, Brenda D. Divine Providence: A History : the Bible, Virgil, Orosius, Augustine, and
Dante. London: Continuum, 2012. Print.
