Constantine

[Jerm]

Some of y'all with more insight on Church history might be able to answer this.  I know that Augustine had a major role in the promotion and popularity of ET in the church, but I was wondering if the Emperor Constantine had any role as well.  I've read that he used Christianity as a way to unite his empire from a political standpoint and since the threat of eternal hellfire is a good way controling people, I've wondered if he promoted the doctrine of ET once he gained control.  Anybody know?

[adam]

Hi Jerm,  no I dont think he did.  Constantine the great made Christianity legal  with the edit of Milan in 313, but he still allowed pagan worship, it was a later emperor who banned that.  The suggestion that Constantine used christianity to control people is normally only found in atheist propoganda, I haven't came across it in any of the history I've read.

[Nathan]

I'm always throwing the two together giving them both the credit . . .really bad oversight on my part to be sure.

[studier]

The biggest problem was Emperor Justinian, who followed the edict to unite Rome under one rule and began the Christian Wars.