The Sudden Collapse of Greco-Roman Paganism and Rise of Christianity during the 4th century AD ~ Some Stark Clues Courtesy of Julian the Apostate

Gloria Romanorum ^ | October 12, 2021 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

Who better to advise on why the Roman Empire abandoned paganism in favor of Christianity than Julian the Apostate?

[Antoninus]

Catholic ping!

[Red Badger]

So why, then, did Roman paganism collapse in the 4th century AD, and why did so many Roman pagans eventually flock to Christianity?

Simplicity. The Holy Spirit. Economy.

Having multiple 'gods' is confusing and very expensive. Sacrifices were messy affairs. One 'God' for everything was much preferred.

Plus, the Graeco-Roman society was 'pre-disposed' to accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The mythology of the Graeco-Roman Era was replete with stories of sons and daughters of gods and goddesses who were human demi-gods, so accepting Jesus as the son of the Most High God was really not difficult for the Gentiles but very difficult for the Jews.................

[calico_thompson]

Today, one reason people willingly adopt Islamism is that Western secular culture is so base.

[Rurudyne]

Based on the below quote, though Julian was an Apostate I’m thinking he would not have fit in well with our last days apostates of the American Left, for the Woke etc find all excesses of hedonistic zeal against both temperance and preservation of the civilization to be expedient.

Heck, our apostates cannot endure sanity if it gets in the way of gender related insanity.

“but as it is, since I thought that this is impossible, and that even if it should prove to be possible it would not on other accounts be expedient, I forebore entirely from this ambition.” — Julian the Apostate

[pierrem15]

By the Third Century the Roman Empire was essentially a military dictatorship.

In the remains of the fortress city of Dura-Europos, sacked by the Sassanids in 256-257, the remains of a quite substantial Christian church have been found. The church came into existence during some of the worst persecutions of Christianity and in a city dominated by a Roman Army garrison.

This strongly suggests to me that Christianity, despite its pacifism, had already made substantial inroads into the Roman Army in the Third Century. An early acceptance by the military would also explain the equanimity with which Constantine's conversion and edicts of toleration were greeted by the Roman Army.

[Rurudyne]

Look up the Theban Legion.

[Antoninus]

Today, one reason people willingly adopt Islamism is that Western secular culture is so base.

Very true.

[Tell It Right]

Don't forget that helping the needy in the first few centuries involved caring for people who were sick of plagues when no-one else would help them. That made the others go, "Wow! There's something to these Christian folks. I want some of what they've got."

https://pjmedia.com/culture/tyler-o-neil/2020/03/17/how-early-christians-saved-lives-and-spread-the-gospel-during-roman-plagues-n379331

[Antoninus]

I’m thinking he would not have fit in well with our last days apostates of the American Left, for the Woke etc find all excesses of hedonistic zeal against both temperance and preservation of the civilization to be expedient.

Maybe, maybe not. Don't forget, Julian was a bit nuts and had a lot of cognitive dissonance running around in his brain. He may have been one to preach virtue but practice hedonism or at least tolerate it.

Nevertheless, quoting those passages to Julian's modern admirers of the more hedonistic variety is great fun.

[GSWarrior]

Christianity was more ‘user-friendly’ than the pagan religions of the time.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks for adding to our perspective by posting this very interesting article.

Julian's frankly jealous admiration of the system he forsook finds a modern parallel, I suggest, in Bart Ehrman, the Christian-turned-critic who as the leading atheist Bible scholar nevertheless admits that the earliest Christians truly believed they actually saw the risen Jesus.

[GBA]

Seems like a politician’s merry merging of Jewish and pagan traditions, with a few tweaks and changes here and there, to create a more modern and inclusive belief system and a new religious calendar.

And even though they are not supported by Scripture, many of these remain as hallmarks of modern Christian tradition today.

Why? Beats me … gentiles gotta be gentiles or something 🤷‍♂️ I don’t know. But we love Jesus, so we’ve got that going for us, right?

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[caww]

It’s asked....” why did so many Roman pagans eventually flock to Christianity”....

Well as soon as the Catholic Church allowed their pagan symbols and relics into the church then they could adapt...rather like Haitians incorporate Voo-doo into the catholic churches there today....the best of both worlds and the membership rises.

[ebb tide]

Ping

[Antoninus]

Well as soon as the Catholic Church allowed their pagan symbols and relics into the church then they could adapt.

Thanks for the ignorant comment, Jack Chick!

[caww]

Well check it’s history. Not to mention when the Priests wanted to have as elaborate vestments as the Romans did. One hand fed the other.

[M Kehoe]

Ping.

5.56mm

[Antoninus]

Well check it’s history.

Really? Then you'll have no problem citing the ancient historians who back up this theory, then, eh? Go ahead and cite a few for me.