Christianity in the roman empire.

[Timotheus]

I'm a Christian but I would stand up for Timotheus's post/opinion. Whether it is right or wrong, a great deal of people think that the church was always an evil torturer of non believers in its quest to convert the world. That was more applicable in the medieval times for sure, but some people get the idea that this was always the case before our "modern" times. If he is telling what he thinks was the case in this time, I wouldnt call it bashing Christians. It caused a good debate and revealed knowlege for sure.

-Nihonius

I look at it this way. Early Christians had no problem killing each other as they decided what was proper doctrine. They had no problem pillaging pagan temples of anything of value. Early Christians also had no problem with destroying books and closing down libraries. How many libraries were closed in Rome once Christians took over the city?

http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_pers2.htm

This article points to ancient sources where Christians did not even consdier it theft if they were stealing from pagans.


So the odds of finding any numbers on church membership is going to be impossible to find. Christians were quick to destroy any books they did not deem "worthy" and it is not a stretch to consider any writing on the expansion of membership by "enticing" pagans would sure fit into that category.