2.21 Roman Faiths and the Birth of Christianity

Many people believe that Constantine, the first Christian emperor and the instigator of the Council of Nicaea that cemented the dogma of Roman Christianity, made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. This is false. In fact, Christianity will not become the official religion of the Roman Empire until the Fourth Century under Emperor Theodosius.

Rome had always been a hotbed of religious diversity. While the official Roman gods were venerated across the Empire, Roman elites had no objections to the worship of other deities, and indeed many Romans eagerly embraced foreign faiths. Originating in the Hellenistic kingdoms, many Romans were attracted to mystery cults that promised spiritual salvation to their members. These mystery cults shared a belief that the universe was full of magical charms that could lead to spiritual salvation or eternal life itself. In many ways, they were more like cults of magic than traditional religious faiths. A worshiper could join multiple mystery religions, intoning chants and prayers and participating in rituals in hopes of securing good fortune and wealth in life and the possibility of spiritual immortality after death.

Even Rome’s perennial adversary Persia supplied sources of spiritual inspiration to Rome. A demigod of Persia, Mithras, became immensely popular among Romans. Mithrans believed that Mithras had been a soldier, slain by his enemies, who then rose to enjoy eternal life. Roman soldiers campaigning in Persia brought Mithranism back to Rome. The worship of Mithras was so popular that, some historians have noted, it is easy to imagine the Roman Empire becoming Mithran instead of Christian if Constantine had not converted to the latter faith. Another mystery cult that promised a similar eternal life appealed to the feminine side in the Cult of Isis from Egypt.

“Constantine Unites Christianity.” Trials and Triumphs in Rome: Christianity in the 3rd and 4th Centuries. Films on Demand. 1999. Through “Rome Bows to Christianity.” Trials and Triumphs in Rome: Christianity in the 3rd and 4th Centuries. Films on Demand. 1999. 6:58.

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“Emperor Theodosius.” Rome: Christianity—A History. Films on Demand. 2008. 2:34.