"Constantine"

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes the Christian status before Constantine's act of legalizing Christianity, as a premise of defending the idea that his act paved the way for subsequent Christian evolution. The eventual recognition of Christianity and its path ever since is subsequently presented by the paper, along with the potential negative outcomes that may have arisen. The paper determines that, during the period preceding Constantine's legalization of Christianity, the religion consolidated its own faith, characteristics and place among the other religions. With Constantine's recognition, its path opened for a bivalent participation in worldly matters, both for the case of simple individuals, and the case of nation - states.

Outline:
Introduction
Christianity before legalization
Legalization of Christianity
Effects of legalization
Potential negative consequences of legalization
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"Initially, Christianity develops around the personality of Jesus Christ, more as "a movement of people around a single charismatic teacher or preacher". The moment of Jesus Christ's death transforms the movement of people into a sect, because these are individuals that have been able to transform real life happenings into something bearing a religious and mystical meaning. The Christian mythology and cosmogony is this born, along with the main writings of the new religion."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cohen, Shaye. Legitimization under Constantine. 1995-2007. On the Internet at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/why/legitimization.html. Last retrieved on October 8, 2007
• Waddington, George. A History of the Church, from the Earliest Ages to the Reformation. Baldwin & Cradock. 1833.
• Christianity: The Official Religion of the Roman Empire. On the Internet at http://www.unrv.com/culture/christianity.php. Last retrieved on October 8, 2007
• Quinlan, Andrew. Christianity's first three centuries - the truth behind the myth. AD2000 Vol 5 No 4 (May 1992), p. 10. On the Internet at http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/1992/may1992p10_753.htmlhttp://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/1992/may1992p10_753.html. Last retrieved on October 8, 2007
• History of Christianity in Rome. On the Internet at http://www.allaboutreligion.org/history-of-christianity-in-rome-faq.htm. Last retrieved on October 8, 2007

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