(February 21, 2013 at 7:43 pm)catfish Wrote: Aha! But they kept (or added) all of the pagan rituals, rites and dieties (saints, angels, etc...).
They were Christianised, though.
(February 21, 2013 at 8:08 pm)Minimalist Wrote:Quote:They were too busy being the underdogs to do any blood thirsty persecutions themselves.
Again....that's the story but what was the reality?
What do you mean? Are you saying the Christians before Theodosius's day had local Inquisitions and heretics were burned at the stake?
Just realised that what I said in Post #181 reads like modern Christians are going in for blood thirsty persecutions.
(February 22, 2013 at 12:18 am)Minimalist Wrote:Quote:but I haven't found an estimate for how many there were in Nero's day.
I suspect none. At least none who would be recognizable as xtians in the 2'd-4th centuries.
I think it's common knowledge that Christianity developed over the centuries. What point are you trying to make here?
Where are the snake and mushroom smilies?