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WmJackP
Guest
I find the history and growth of christianity over the last 2 millinium to be fascinating… Most historians believe Christ was an actual person and an apocalyptic preacher. Paul is significant I gather as he developed certain doctinal teachings. These teaching about Christ then, to greater or lesser extent were incorporated into certain gospels or stories, of which there were many (later pared down to the familiar four as a result of certain councils held following Constantine’s conversion) . But unless there had been the conquests by Alexander three or four centuries earlier, I doubt that Christianity could have spread as it did to Europe where it actually planted its roots. Alexander created the necessary connections within the ancient world sufficiently to allow the kind of commerce for Christianity to spread.Once Constantine adopted it in the fourth century C.E., it gradually replaced pagan religions over the next several decades.
After the collaspe of Rome, it was adopted by the barbaric tribes of Western and eastern Europe. It appears to be the case that–the superior culture of Rome was subsumed by the lower culture of the barbaric heirs, and, in the process the surviving (non-heridical version) form of christianity became that of the Roman church. Christianity then held sway for centururies afterwards, influencing european civilization and affecting the rule of Europeans. Much good was accomplished by the Church as it kept civilization alive during the dark ages. It inspired many of the great expeditions during the 15th and 16th centuries. It provided a cohesive force when Europe was in various states of disarray. But it certainly has had it darker periods and as much as the church sponsored learning in its monestaries, particularly during the dark ages after Rome’s collaspe, it also stymied science and advancement, freedom of thought in other periods, and, practiced profound cruelity during periods when it exercised the most control within european politics. It is a mixed bag, indeed.
My impression is that christianity is probably the product of Paul, aided of course by Constantine and made possible by Alexander.
Any other thoughts?I would be interested in different views as to how others see the origins of Christianity and what Christian influence on Europe has been.
After the collaspe of Rome, it was adopted by the barbaric tribes of Western and eastern Europe. It appears to be the case that–the superior culture of Rome was subsumed by the lower culture of the barbaric heirs, and, in the process the surviving (non-heridical version) form of christianity became that of the Roman church. Christianity then held sway for centururies afterwards, influencing european civilization and affecting the rule of Europeans. Much good was accomplished by the Church as it kept civilization alive during the dark ages. It inspired many of the great expeditions during the 15th and 16th centuries. It provided a cohesive force when Europe was in various states of disarray. But it certainly has had it darker periods and as much as the church sponsored learning in its monestaries, particularly during the dark ages after Rome’s collaspe, it also stymied science and advancement, freedom of thought in other periods, and, practiced profound cruelity during periods when it exercised the most control within european politics. It is a mixed bag, indeed.
My impression is that christianity is probably the product of Paul, aided of course by Constantine and made possible by Alexander.
Any other thoughts?I would be interested in different views as to how others see the origins of Christianity and what Christian influence on Europe has been.