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To: vladimir998

"So much of this would be cleared up if Protestants just studied history. Is that too much to ask?"
____________________________

Whose? Yours?

After your church became a part of the state did the head of the state ever direct any councils to convene to resolve any doctrinal issues?

After Constantine was the power of the State ever used to punish heretics?

After Constantine did worship services change? Did the places of worship change, after all prior to Constantine Roman Catholicism was largely a faith of the poor.

After Constantine what happened to the pagans?


42 posted on 03/16/2006 9:19:44 AM PST by wmfights (Lead, Follow, or Get Out Of The WAY!)
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To: wmfights
After Constantine was the power of the State ever used to punish heretics?

That idea was mainly an invention of the middle ages. Heretics in the era you're talking about were typically removed from church offices (good) and banished to remote locations (maybe not quite as good).

After Constantine did worship services change?

Not very much, although the use of Greek died out in the West and was replaced by Latin.

Did the places of worship change, after all prior to Constantine Roman Catholicism was largely a faith of the poor.

You mean you admit that "Roman Catholicism" existed prior to Constantine? I'm shocked.

After Constantine what happened to the pagans?

Well, one of them, his grandson I believe, became Emperor and tried to stamp out the Faith. qv "Julian the Apostate"

45 posted on 03/16/2006 9:25:30 AM PST by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: wmfights

You wrote:

"Whose? Yours?"

The history of the Church is the history of my Church. There were no Protestants before the sixteenth century. Ask a Lutheran if he ever studied Lutheran church history of fifth century Persia and he'll look at you as if you're from another planet.

"After your church became a part of the state did the head of the state ever direct any councils to convene to resolve any doctrinal issues?"

The Catholic Church NEVER became a part of the state. You've said this at least twice. Care to present your evidence for that assertion?

"After Constantine was the power of the State ever used to punish heretics?"

Roman state power was used to punish religious deviants -- period. Once upon a time that meant Christians and sometimes others. Later that meant heretics from Christianity. The state power didn't change. The definition of who was a deviant did.

"After Constantine did worship services change?"

Not because of Constantine they didn't. We know this from the Hippolytus of Rome who lived BEFORE Constantine.

"Did the places of worship change, after all prior to Constantine Roman Catholicism was largely a faith of the poor."

Incorrect. No such thing as "Roman Catholicism" existed until that term was invented by bitter Protestants in the sixteenth century in England. The Church was Catholic and still is Catholic. Also, the Church always included some wealthy and prominent members even in the first few centuries. Christians worshipped wherever they could just as they do now. When they can afford to build beautiful churches they do it. When they can't, they worship in homes, hotel rooms, outdoors, in caves, catacombs, etc.

"After Constantine what happened to the pagans?"

Nothing. They made up 2/3 of the population. What could happen to them? They even briefly persecuted Christians again under the emperor Julian the Apostate in the 360's (he was a nephew of Constantine). There were still plenty of pagans in the Roman empire in 410 -- 85 years after the Council of Nicea! It was because of their bitter attack on Christisnity after the sack of Rome by Arian Visigoths that Augustine felt compelled to write the City of God to explain why troubles can befall even those who are Christians, and that returning to the old pagan gods would be foolishness.


57 posted on 03/16/2006 9:40:00 AM PST by vladimir998 (Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. St. Jerome)
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