THEO 206 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Pliny The Younger, Transitional Justice
6 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
How christianity became a legal religion in the empire after being persecuted for over 250 years. Roman empire has lot of freedom of religion except for christianity and some judaism, seen as against order. Christians were accused as cannibals, body and blood of christ. Sometimes target entire communities but mostly leaders such as bishops. People were trying to work with persecutors by handing over their bibles and volunteering info. Some did not collaborate, were tortured, some died martyrs. Bishop donatos proposed those who collaborated not be in church. Church was only for saints, true to their beliefs. His view was adopted as normative by the. Church: church is made of saints and sinners. People have to seek morality for their sins: god wants to transmit grace through priests and bishops, still good if sinners. Monasticism: some people become monks and nuns because living in a city did not fill their need for spirituality.
