Paul's Writings Underpin Western Thought

[Pat Mustard]

Then why do so many theists point to Constantine as an important figure to the rise of Christianity?

You mean aside from his conversion and him legalizing Christianity at the time?  Jesus Christ Brian.

Christianity was legal at the time. What Constantine did was largely replace the imperial cult with christianity (to be completed a couple of generations later with the suppression of all competing religions).

On the very rare occasions that christians got into trouble it was solely due to their refusal to sacrifice and give praise to the imperial cult, considered by Rome a civic and patriotic rather than a religious duty.