Jesus needs to be DFed !!! (page 4)

LyinEyes

< - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - listens , to the interesting debate.

Good points and good question. The city of rome was established about 650 bc. It established itself as a republic in 510 bc with the creation of a senate. The senate checked the kings power over the cities. Shortly after that, basic laws were decreed and publicly displayed. These lasted until the end of the republic in 23bc. Through alliances war and treaties rome expanded its area of dominance around the mediteranian and in europe, from egypt to britain. In 62bc it siezed jerusalem. Christians were persecuted off and on until an edict from the emperor in 311 called it off. In 325, christianity was made the official state religion. From about this point on is the period called the collapse. See http://www.roman-empire.net/collapse/collapse-index.html Rome loses many battles together w territory and subject until its fall in the 5th century.

The religion of the empire, w the pope at the helm does start to play a much greater part after the fall. Though often competing vigorously against politicians, it is the glue that hold together the empire for more than a thousand yrs into the future.

Conclusion: While there was much religion in rome, compared to israel, it's govt was secular. Christianity came into play well after the empire had been built. In fact, the time of it's acceptance as official state religion is about the time that rome started to collapse. Rome grew from a city state to an empire in about 1100 yrs without the aide of christianty. However, after it's miltary collapse, the religion kept it going for another millenium or more.

A good site for info is http://www.roman-empire.net/

PS, I doubt that christianity was the cause of rome's collapse phase.

SS

Edited by - saintsatan on 22 October 2002 3:37:15