More on Christianity

    Today in class we continued to talk about Christianity. Some of my notes are below:

  • "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
  • Jews and Christians were monotheistic
  • The refused to worship Roman gods
  • Early in Pax Romana, it was easy to travel and to spread ideas (Paul wasn't the only one who did so)
  • Poor, desperate Romans were a receptive substance
The Problem with Monotheism

  • Jews and Christians were sometimes persecuted by Roman authorities, since Monotheism contradicted Roman law
  • They could be exiled, imprisoned, executed, crucified, burned, or killed by wild animals
  • This would happen as things began to go wrong for the Roman empire, scapegoats were "needed"
  • Scapegoat: Aaron confessed Israelites' sins over a goat, then sent the goat away- symbolic
The Appeal of Christianity

  • Christianity grew because it: 
    • Embraced all people:
      • Men AND women
      • enslaved people
      • the poor (and noble)
  • Gave hope to powerless
  • Appealed to those who were disgusted by imperial Rome's decadence
  • Offered a personal relationship with God
  • Promised eternal life

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