Ch. 5 Sec. 4 Developmen

t of Christianity

Roman Religion• Guaranteed peace and prosperity• As Rome expands Roman’s desire an

emotional spiritual experience

Judaism• 4 Groups

• Saducees- Cooperation w/ Rome• Pharisees- Religious law would protect them

from Roman influences • Essenes- Lived Apart/ God will save• Zealots- Violent overthrow of Rome

• The revolt of 66 led to the destruction of the Jewish temple

Christianity• Jesus seen as a revolutionary• Simon Peter is the leader of the new church• Apostle Paul was a missionary and founds new

cities• The “Good News” is written down in the 2nd

part of the Christian Bible called the New Testament

• Persecuted because they refuse to worship gods and emperors

Growth of Christianity

• Becomes very popular because• 1.) Gives meaning and purpose in life

vs. impersonal Romany Religion• 2.) Familiar Jesus is easy to relate to • 3.) Need to belong and help each other.

Growth of Christianity

• Popular among poor because eternal life is for everyone

• Constantine converted to Christianity and issues The Edict of Milan which gave tolerance to Christians

• Theodosius the Great finally adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire