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Age of Catholic Christianity II 70-312 AD. Persecution. The Spread of Christianity. God Burning Conviction Need in the hearts of people Love for one another Persecution. Martyrdom. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church -Tertullian. Martyr - Witness.
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Age of Catholic Christianity II 70-312 AD Persecution
The Spread of Christianity • God • Burning Conviction • Need in the hearts of people • Love for one another • Persecution
Martyrdom The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church -Tertullian Martyr - Witness
Reasons for Christian Persecution • Jewish Fears • Loss of membership in Synagogue • Loss of privileged status with Rome • Zealots disliked lack of nationalism
Reasons for Christian Persecution • Roman Politics • Christians believed in an incoming kingdom with Christ, not the emperor, as its head • Union of state and religion excluded Christians from political customs
Reasons for Christian Persecution • Social Reasons • Refusal to engage in sporting/theatrical events • Condemnation of the gladiatorial games • Christianity gave status to slaves and women
Reasons for Christian Persecution • Economic Reasons • Loss of profit for idol makers/pagan temples • Christians were scapegoats
Reasons for Christian Persecution • Religious Reasons • Christianity is Monotheist and exclusive • Holding of secret “Love Feasts” • Christians were strange atheists • Refusal to worship the Emperor
The Early Persecutions64-100 AD • Burning of Rome • Christian torches • Peter and Paul executed Nero 64-68 AD
The Early Persecutions64-100 AD • Strict about Emperor worship • Executed Christians as atheists • Placed self as “God” • Exile of John Domitian 81-96
Imperial Policy • Shown and evidenced by Pliny the Younger • Don’t seek out Christians • Limited mob violence • Allowed a respite and growth in Christian numbers
Persecution Worsens Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD • Stoic Philosopher • Introduced a spy system • Christians became scapegoats • Riots supported • Many Christians executed either by beheading or in the games • Justin Martyr was executed
Official Persecution Decius Trajan 249-251 AD • Desired to return to that “old time religion” • Published an edict requiring a return to paganism • First empire-wide persecution • Desired conversion not persecution
Official Persecution Diocletian 284-305 • 260-303 Christians had a respite • Diocletian, a previously neutral emperor, writes 3 edicts calling for persecution • 303 Complete and systematic persecution of Christianity, the worst yet experienced • Persecution targeted the church infrastructure
Official Persecution Galerius • Prime force behind Diocletian persecutions • Ruled half of the Empire, under Diocletian • Issued an edict requiring all men women and children to sacrifice to the gods, and all food in the markets to be sprinkled with sacrificial wine.
Positive Effects of Persecution • “Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” – Tertullian • Purification of the church • Spreading of the gospel • Canonization of scripture • Provided Apologia for the faith
Negative Effects of Persecution • People got dead • The problem of the lapsed • The overemphasis on martyrdom • Lack of ability to leave a literary legacy