03-02-2013, 11:29 PM
Just to muddy the waters a bit, I own a coin of Constantine with Sol Invictus on its reverse.
We have to remember that Constantine's edict was an edict of "Tolerance". Christianity (or Christianities at that point) had wide appeal as it/they were not restricted to only initiates (Mithraism is one whose influence or membership is, I agree, greatly overstated-especially in fictional works) and was open to all social classes. As noted above, Christianity made promises both for the here/now and for the afterlife. Other religions may have promised something for an afterlife and/or had savior-god attributes, but were not open to all.
Constantine assisted and presided at the Council of Nicea, where the bishops "hammered" out the terms of formal belief for Christian orthodoxy (not to be confused with the Ortholox Church). He chose to be baptised on his deathbed. It is likely that he feared that if he sinned after baptism that he would be denied a place in Heaven. He seems to have felt guilty about some of the executions he ordered during his raign (such as perhaps his son Crispus). IIRC, many Christians or converts in that time chose baptism late in life or on their deathbeds for much the same reasoning.
It was not until Theodosius I aka the Great that a particular orthodox Christianity was formally declared the one and only religion of the Empoire (again, not to be confused with the Orthodox Church).
We have to remember that Constantine's edict was an edict of "Tolerance". Christianity (or Christianities at that point) had wide appeal as it/they were not restricted to only initiates (Mithraism is one whose influence or membership is, I agree, greatly overstated-especially in fictional works) and was open to all social classes. As noted above, Christianity made promises both for the here/now and for the afterlife. Other religions may have promised something for an afterlife and/or had savior-god attributes, but were not open to all.
Constantine assisted and presided at the Council of Nicea, where the bishops "hammered" out the terms of formal belief for Christian orthodoxy (not to be confused with the Ortholox Church). He chose to be baptised on his deathbed. It is likely that he feared that if he sinned after baptism that he would be denied a place in Heaven. He seems to have felt guilty about some of the executions he ordered during his raign (such as perhaps his son Crispus). IIRC, many Christians or converts in that time chose baptism late in life or on their deathbeds for much the same reasoning.
It was not until Theodosius I aka the Great that a particular orthodox Christianity was formally declared the one and only religion of the Empoire (again, not to be confused with the Orthodox Church).
Quinton Johansen
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
