Question Home

Position:Home>History> What is the religion of the Romans?


Question: What is the religion of the Romans!?
The Romans from the Roman civilisation, Roman Empire, anything!. And if the religion is not Christianity or Catholicism, then why is there a Roman Catholic Church presently!? They mass converted to Catholicism!? Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
In the ancient classical Roman Empire, the state religion was a polytheistic (multiple gods) belief system that evolved from the traditions of the ancient Greeks!. However, the citizens of the Empire were allowed to retain their native religions so there were Romans who were Jews, Zoroastrians, followers of the Egyptian gods, Christians (after the First Century A!.D!.) and countless other faiths!. In fact, the Romans often adopted the gods of the countries they conquered into their own pantheon and built temples for them!. Many of the minor Catholic "saints" were originally local pagan dieties who the Church "adopted" to encourage the locals to embrace Christianity!. Under the Emperor Constantine (in the 4th century A!.D!. ) the official state religion of the Roman Empire became Christianity!.

The reason there is a "Roman" Catholic Church is that there was a historical split in the Catholic church between the portion that followed the pope based in Rome, Italy, and the portion that followed the Byzantine leaders in Constantinople, Turkey (now know as Eastern Orthodox!.) It's a complicated history -- not something you can explain in a few sentences!.

By the way "paganism" is not a title for any religion!. It's just a label foloowers of one religious tradition put on any group that doesn't agree with their beliefs!. In fact, many of the traditions of Catholicism are more based in the social conventions of "pagan" Rome (such as celibacy of priests, intercession of the church between the worshipper and God and the church bureaucracy) than in the teachings of the early ChristiansWww@QuestionHome@Com

At the beginning of Rome they were pagans, who modeled their mythology after the Greeks!.

When Christianity was first introduced, after Rome had been empirized, the Christians were a persecuted sect!. However, it still grew, and Constantine I issued the Edict of Milan in 313, establishing religious freedom, which allowed Christianity to flourish!.

Theodosius I established it as the official religion of Rome in 380 and banned all other religions!. This official Roman version of Christianity eventually became Catholicism, especially after the fall of Rome in 476!.

Throughout the next few centuries, the pope became a powerful political, as well as religious, figure!. Since he lived in Rome, the church became known as Roman Catholic!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Romans were Pagans, worshipping many different gods and goddesses!. Christians were a small minority to begin with, but their numbers grew as more people converted, and despite persecutions they did not go away!. Eventually, in the 4th century AD, the Emperor Constantine declared Christinaity the official religion of rome!. After that, anyone who hadn't already converted to Christianity probably did so quite quickly!. And Rome became the centre of Christianity in western Europe!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Pagan for the longest time!. It wasn't until the Roman Empire "split", and Constantine ruled the east (Byzantium) that Christianity was the main religion!.He converted!.!.!.so everyone else did!. Emperors have that power!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Constantine was responsible for the beginning of Catholicism in Italy!. See below!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

'Roman paganism'!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Philistines!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

mythologys! XD

Ps:they were PagansWww@QuestionHome@Com