medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Conlegae doctissimi,
as long as more knowledgeable scholars do not intervene let me state that to the best of my knowledge Xtianity was not spread by the sword in the Roman Empire. To say the least until Theodosius it would have been theoretically impossible (that is, until the 380s). By that time - even by the time of Origen, even Tertullian, so latest by the 250s - Xtianity had been present all around the oikoumene and beyond. It was only after this remarkable success that it became a religio licita in the Empire after 313 (under C'tine), and it only became "state religion" gradually, suffering in between a substantial setback under the legislation of Julian between 360-3. But even after Theodosius no systematic persecution of pagans existed as such (yes, temples - and synagogues - were attacked and demolished, mobs roused and local riots initiated, but these remained local events, to which the central administration put an end, and no empire-wide physical enforcement was legally established). Think of the Roman pagan elite in Augustine's days, or the interesting cases listed by Bowersock in his Hellenism in Late Antiquity.
Neither did SS Cyril and Methodius spread Christianity by the sword among the Slavs, or the Apostle Thomas in India. This was the original situation. Afterwards, especially in the Latin West different things happened.
But there is no such thing as finding a justification in the NT for the spreading of the word by the sword. The order of Christ making all nations his disciples Mt 28:19, Mk 13:10, Lk 24:47 is not tied to anything like forcible conversion. That it had to be so is because the sacrifice of Christ in Biblical terms is meant for all humankind leaving God for idols at some point (most importantly at Babel). (Caveat: I must confess I haven't read the Militia Christi of Harnack, which should be a good source for first orientation.)
Observe that the point here is not about historical facts (yes, there were forced conversions in the name of Xtianity), but whether these forced actions were grounded in the text (the source of legitimacy) or not. This was the reason why Las Casas could object to the practices of the Spanish authorities as a _theologian_ (and not as a secular humanist).
Sometimes we need to think and speak about basics.
Valete,
George
G. Gereby
associate professor
Ancient and Mediaeval Philosophy Department, Eötvös Loránd University Budapest
recurrent associate professor
Medieval Studies Dept.
Central European University
Budapest V.
Nador u. 9.
H-1051 Hungary
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+ 36.1.3273046 office
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