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2. What were the early policies of the Romans against the Christians? How did the Romans

see the Christians? Discuss illegal associations, superstitions, and subversive nature and
how did that influence the treatment of the early Christians and the shift with
Constantine?

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Answer:

During the early days of the Roman Empire, the Romans had a generally negative view of the Christians and their beliefs. The Romans saw the Christians as a threat to their traditional religions and way of life, and they were often suspicious of their secretive and exclusive nature.

One of the early policies of the Romans against the Christians was to outlaw certain religious practices and associations that were deemed illegal or superstitious. For example, the Romans banned the Christians from participating in certain religious ceremonies and rituals, such as the worship of the gods and goddesses of the Roman pantheon. They also saw the Christians as being involved in "illegal associations," or groups that were considered subversive or a threat to the Roman state.

This negative view of the Christians was largely based on the perception that they were a disruptive and subversive force that posed a threat to the stability of the Roman Empire. Many Romans saw the Christians as being a "dangerous superstition" that could potentially undermine the established order and cause social unrest.

Despite these early policies, the treatment of the Christians changed significantly with the rise of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD. Constantine was a strong supporter of Christianity and helped to establish it as the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. He also passed laws that granted the Christians greater freedom to practice their religion, and he made it more difficult for the Romans to persecute the Christians.

Overall, the early policies of the Romans against the Christians were largely driven by a fear and mistrust of their beliefs and practices. However, with the rise of Constantine, the treatment of the Christians began to shift, and they eventually gained greater acceptance and tolerance within the Roman Empire.

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