Monday, September 2, 2013

How had converting to Christianity now gained "all sorts of fraught political implications"?

Throughout the rule of Emperor Constantine, Christianity makes a giant leap from the a persecuted minority religion to the Roman Empire's accepted Religion. In 313, Constantine employs the Edict of Milan and Christianity becomes legal.  Around 320-330, Christian nation Armenia, forms unofficial political ties with the powerful Roman Empire because of their same Religious beliefs. Constantine is able to indirectly challenge, the rivaling nation of Persia by politely suggesting that Shapur II (King of Persia) should not persecute the Armenian Christians. Here Constantine has skilfully used the Christian Religion in order to threaten corresponding rivaling Nations. Christianity has displayed its valuable ability to be used as a Political tool. With this new side of Christianity, people can now employ Christianity as a way to receive favors. For example, a respected man  working as a bureaucrat claims he has converted to Christianity, and the current governor wishing to prove himself as a sincere Christian governor offers this recently converted man a higher position. The bureaucrat now receives a higher income, and the governor is now perceived as a respecter of Christians. Converting to Christianity has now gained all sorts of "fraught political implications."

1 comment:

  1. Christianity definitely presents itself as a potential means of aligning and structuring political power.

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