Pagan to Christian

We know from our studies that the Greek and Roman Cultures were Pagan. Not only were they pagan but they were Polytheist in nature. Each have a group of gods who are tied together in a Pantheon. This was a prevelent practice not only in Greece and Rome but through out the Ancient world. Yet over the course of 250 years of Roman Rule the World became Christian. However it took several hundred more years for the beliefs of Christians to spread through the world. This marked a major change in thinking. We may think that the religious persecution of the time was pagan vs christian but much of the persecutions came from within the Christian world. Many sects were already forming. You think we have a divided religious culture now. The divisions of the late antiquity era were small yet prominate. Rome ruled these changes so the Roman Catholic sect thought they were the best. Ulitmately the Arian Catholics disapeared and the Greek Catholics took there half and continued on through history. We also had our first contact with Islam during this period. We may think that the religous based wars we have now are new or that they can be resolved yet these wars go back Thousands of years and even though in history we only see this from the change of common era these wars can be traced back to early Isreal and Babylon. The fights may be on a much bigger scale and but the issues remain the same. Pagans are trying to keep their corner of the world alive. Christians are trying to fight for their causes and the Islamic people feel that the old ways are the best and the modern world is corrupt. There is no way to say which is right or which is wrong. We have seen each group in power and the things that were done to each group. First the Pagans resisted the Christian ideas and the Christians had to meet in secret to avoid detection. Then the Christians took over they took the holidays and other days important to the Pagans to make them feel welcomed. Yet they were killed, hunted and tortured for their beliefs. And this did not end in the medival ages. Even as recent as early American history do we see these events take place.

I feel that be discovering the history of religions we learn the things that help us understand the state of our world. After all how many people realize that it took until the 7th century for Christianity to really take off. Yes Constantinbe coverted in 312 and gained the church a protected status but the persections on both sides continued and do continue. How many of us have learned from this history and can have an open mind about peoples beliefs. In my home town we have many Mosque, Severl major Synagogues, Catholic parishes and Convents, and LDS Temple, several Buddist Temples, Covens and Groves of different Pagan Traditions and many other major religious centers of note. Yet on any particular day of the week one religion is picketing another, or slinging persecution from their pulpit. You would think a city with so many religions of note would be more tolerant and understanding but even for a liberal and open area the persecutions and hatreds that date back to the change of religion in Rome are abundent everyday of the week.