Quote Originally Posted by Jaimecbr900
Constantine did beginning in the 4th century. That simply goes even further to prove what I've been saying all along. Most info I've looked up during this discussion points directly at the 4th century as the turning point in which Christianity flourished, was finally thought of as a "religion", and the first signs of a Bible as we know it today started happening. It would obviously make sense that it would all happen around the time which Constantine was Emperor since previously Christians were persecuted by other Emperors.




Again, that may very well be so for the beginning part of the Roman Empire. By the end of the Roman Empire, the Christian "church" had quite a bit more power than it did in the beggining of the Empire. Again, mostly due to Constantine and the fact that many high power people had converted to Christianity during Constantine's rule.


We have really gotten off on a tangent here though.

I think we have proven that there are quite a few things that are historically accurate about the Bible. I understand that you have a secular point of view and as such are trying to logically figure out things that are impossible to understand with logic because by definition you have to have FAITH before you believe.

The bottom line is that noone will ever be able to convince a true believer by using logic because a true believer's FAITH far outweighs simple logic. Some things "are" just because you FEEL they "are". Just like any other "feeling" any human feels....it's very difficult to express in words to someone who's never felt it themselves because their mind has a hard time grasping something that's not within themselves already.
it was constantine; going from the late 3rd century into the 4th century was when christains were actually becoming a religion, but this is a great topic going along w/ the statement i made earlier about "how you read/know what the church wants you to know". during constantines rule is when the cross became the symbol for christians and he also made other christian groups (nastic(sp?)christians) conform to his ideas of christianity.

just so you know i'm not trying to convince you of anything, i know you well educated, but some things you may want to read more on... specially as far as education for common romans goes.

either way this religion forum is my new favorite