Great question. Here are a few points to consider:
1. The most important factor for the growth of Christianity was that it wanted to grow. This factor might seem small, but this makes all the difference. Most religions in the Roman world did not seek out converts. The followers Epicurus and the Jews might be the only exceptions. Christianity, on the other hand, wanted to grow. Just look at Paul's missionary journeys.
2. Because Rome had such a great empire in terms of travel, any religion that wanted to spread could. In other words, Christianity came at the right time.
3. Christianity also had a great demonstration of power. A historian like Ramsey MacMullen (one of the great) even states that the ability of Christians to perform miracles helped its growth. Now, you might not believe in miracles, but the ancients certainly did!
4. Julian, the Roman emperor, also writes about Christian charity. This must have had an effect, especially during difficult times, like during plagues.
5. Some of the stories of heroic martyrdoms must have helped as well. Even a few stories can cause a buzz.
6. Some notable converts made a difference. Some were from the upper-classes. The most famous is obviously Constantine.
7. Finally, Christian apologetic literature should be included. This probably helped the educated class.
No comments:
Post a Comment