"Saint" |
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Christian |
The Sun vs. The Son
"Saint" |
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Christian |
The Background: Official State Persecution of Christianity
Map of the Roman Empire - De Imperatoribus Romanis - Livius.org
Ancient Christian Church Historians Preserve Accounts
of Constantine's "Miraculous" Conversion to Christianity
and of His Subsequent Support for the Christian Church:Eusebius of Caesarea: Constantine's Court Bishop
Socrates Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History
Theodoret, Ecclesiastical History
Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History
(Texts from: http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/)
What "Sign" did Constantine See?
image from
http://forumancientcoins.com/
See also Image from: Sala di Constantino
But . . .
Other Evidence
Suggests that
Constantine May Have Had Other Motives
for his "Conversion" to the Christian Faith
Sol Invictus Coins - Sol Oriens
An Ancient Soap Opera - Fausta - 2
http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/i.html
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/
Gibbon on Constantine and the Church:
"The grateful applause of the clergy has consecrated the memory of a prince, who indulged their passions and promoted their interest. Constantine gave them security, wealth, honours, and revenge; and the support of the orthodox faith was considered as the most sacred and important duty of the civil magistrate. The edict of Milan, the great charter of toleration, had confirmed to each individual of the Roman world the privilege of choosing and professing his own religion. But this inestimable privilege was soon violated: with the knowledge of truth the emperor imbibed the maxims of persecution; and the sects which dissented from the catholic church were afflicted and oppressed by the triumph of Christianity. Constantine easily believed that the heretics, who presumed to dispute his opinions or to oppose his commands, were guilty of the most absurd and criminal obstinacy; and that a seasonable application of moderate severities might save those unhappy men from the danger of an everlasting condemnation." Chapter 21
Some Questions to be Asked:
Would Jesus Suddenly Go on the Warpath 300 Years after his Crucifixion
and Decide to Take Over the World by Military Force?Would Jesus have Communicated his Intentions by Setting up a Giant Neon Sign
of the Cross in the Sky above the Sun with the Message: "In this Sign Conquer?"Did the Warrior/Judge Jesus of Revelation Finally Win Out
Over the Love and Peace Jesus of the Q/Thomas Tradition?Would the Judeo-Christian God Condone Bloodshed to Promote His Worship?
Just Check Today's Headlines: Current Events
See Especially Roots of the Conflict: Sacred Sites, Deadly Disputes
Is Constantine Another Paul, Third in Line after the Bishops?
- Paul and Constantine Claimed Special Personal Revelation Callings from Jesus
- The Bishops Claimed Privileged Access to Jesus and Control of the Holy Spirit
- All Three Caused Radical Changes in the Historical Development of Christianity
The Implications of the Conversion of Constantine:
See previous conflict: The Church vs. the World
Why December 25? - Religious Tolerance.org - Christmas or Pagan-Mass?
A "True Christian" Interpretation of Constantine
"Saints" Constantine and Helen Orthodox Cathedral
Constantine's Churches - Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The True Cross of Christ - Scala-Santa-(Holy-Staircase)
Not Just Ancient History
