Christianity’s Impact on Roman Religion and Politics

The spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire had a profound impact on Roman politics and religion. The widespread diffusion of Christianity occurred at a very slow rate. According to Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith (2016) “the emergence of the new religion was gradual: three centuries after the death of Jesus, Christians were still a minority in the Roman Empire” (page 193). This quote illustrates the idea that it took many years for this religion to fully disseminate. Christianity didn't immediately become Rome’s official religion. Once it did though, it forever changed the course of Roman history. “Ultimately, Christianity’s emergence proved the most significant development in Roman history” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 193). This quote really demonstrates the notion that Christianity had truly a dramatic impact on the Roman Empire. This monotheistic religion’s impact can be attributed to the way it altered religion. Christianity significantly changed the way people practiced religion, and what they believed. Christianity’s large-scale influence can also be strongly tied to its effect on politics. The hierarchy that developed within the church significantly effected the politics of the state. The spread of Christianity had a massive impact on Roman politics and religion because it changed what people believed and their religious practices, and effected the politics of the state.

Over the course of much time Christianity drastically transformed people’s religious beliefs. Before the spread of Christianity the Romans believed in multiple gods. Their polytheistic religion was transformed into a monotheistic one by Christianity. “Romans followed Greek models of religion. Their chief deity, Jupiter, corresponded to the Greek god Zeus and was seen as a powerful, stern father. Juno (Greek Hera), queen of the gods, and Minerva (Greek Athena), goddess of wisdom, joined Jupiter to form the religion’s central triad” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 148). This quote further demonstrates the idea that the Romans traditionally believed in several varying gods. Just like the Greeks, they believed not in one god, but many. As illustrated by the quote these Gods were each unique and different. Another significant change that occurred was in religious practices. The old traditional ways of worship were eventually eschewed, and replaced by new ways of practicing religion. The Romans didn’t initially take well to such extreme alterations to their long-held religious traditions. “Imperial officials, suspecting Christians of being traitors, could prosecute them for refusing to perform traditional sacrifices” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 196). This quote demonstrates how many Romans harshly opposed Christianity. But, it also emphasizes another important idea. The traditional religion involved performing sacrifices to the gods. In Christianity this wasn’t the case, which was why Christians faced the risk of persecution. Before Christianity had fully spread throughout the empire, many Roman leaders strongly opposed Christianity’s affront to their traditions. They also saw its dissemination as a direct threat to the power they held. In “Letters on Christians” Pliny, the governor of Pontus, describes his disgust with Christianity. “For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and farms. But it seems Possible to check and cure it.” This quote illustrates the idea that Christianity created backlash among Roman leaders. “Christianity officially replaced polytheism as the state religion in 391 when Theodosius I enforced a ban on privately funded polytheist practices. In 395, he also announced that all polytheist temples had to close,” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 219). This quote illustrates the idea that traditional religious practices were completely altered once Christianity came along. Sacrifices to the gods were no longer made, and the gods weren’t worshipped through several varying temples. In “Letters on Christians” emperor Trajan describes what should be done to the “guilty” Christians. “If they are denounced and proved guilty, they are to be punished, with this reservation, that whoever denies that he is a Christian and really proves it—that is, by worshipping our gods—even though he was under suspicion in the past, shall obtain pardon through repentance.” Trajan wrote this before Christianity had taken full control over the Roman Empire. His words demonstrate just how repulsed he was by Christianity. They also show a difference in beliefs between the two religions. Christianity was focused on one god, while polytheism had to do with many. This drastic difference in this central religious belief caused problems at first. The belief in one god would later become widely accepted throughout the Roman Empire.

Christianity significantly impacted the politics of the state. Before the dissemination of Christianity religion wasn’t tied as directly into politics. Church and state were more separate during the early Roman Empire. As Christianity gradually spread, this changed. “Seven kings ruled from 753 to 509 B.C.E. and created Rome’s most famous and enduring government body: the Senate, a group of distinguished men chosen as the king’s personal council. This council played the same role—advising government leaders—for a thousand years, as Rome changed from a monarchy to a republic and back to a republic (the empire),” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 150). This quote describes how Rome was ruled by the senate for many many years. During the time of the early senate religion wasn’t nearly as ingrained into politics. In other words, the polytheistic religion wasn’t as directly connected to politics. Once Christianity had started to take hold of the empire, a strong hierarchy bound it together. “The hierarchy of male bishops replaced early Christianity’s relatively loose communal organization, in which women held leadership posts. Over time, the bishops replaced the curials as the emperors’ partners in local rule, taking control of the distribution of imperial subsidies to the people,” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 221). This quote really illustrates the idea that the Christian faith later held immense power within the Roman Empire. The church’s leaders, the bishops and the pope, became directly connected to the Roman government. Before Christianity there was a connection between religion and government, but it wasn’t nearly as strong or direct.

The spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire had an immense impact on religion and politics. As Christianity slowly disseminated across the land, the old traditions began to change, and were replaced by new ones.

Works Cited:

Hunt, Lynn. The Making of the West. Peoples and Cultures: To 1750. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2016.