PaladinValer
Traditional Orthodox Anglican
- Apr 7, 2004
- 23,582
- 1,245
- 42
- Faith
- Anglican
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Others
People give Constantine more credit than he deserves. I honestly believe the guy probably wasn't a confessing Christian until his last breath, if even at all. He also followed typical Roman traditions, but seeing as he can't claim to be a god, he picked the next best thing. he legalized and promoted Christianity, but I don't think he was tearing down pagan temples or anything.
Well, the thing is...
Constantine was a Christian. Even though many point out he was not baptized until his deathbed, they forget (or don't know) that such practice was very common (the issues surrounding reconciliation after sins was still being hashed out, particularly with the Dontanists), as the more extreme (and unorthodox) position was that any sin after baptism was permanent, even damning, and that did cause many to pause even if they were orthodox.
Constantine was also a very wise ruler. He needed to not lose the strong Pagan base that also was still very popular in the Roman Empire. Alienating them could get him dethrowned and violently so. He didn't outlaw the various Pagan religions, and he was a patron to them, but not with any religious reason, but reason of keeping a good state.
What many don't realize is that Constantine went back on Nicaea I and actually exhiled Athanasius and brought Arius back from exhile. And because of this and similar actions, Christianity for the next 50 odd years once again was rocked by fighting despite the Council. It wasn't until 381ce with the Second Ecumenical Council, the first of three that would be help in Constantinople, that the situation was finally and permanently resolved in favor of the orthodox over the various heretics. Still, Christianity does owe a huge debt of gratitude to Constantine, for history would have definitely been much different otherwise, and likely not in Christianity's favor.
Upvote
0