Once the Christian Church gained ascendancy in the Roman Empire,it seemed as though relations with non-Christians would be:
A) in keeping with the Christian tradition of loving one's enemy.
B) in keeping with the imperial rule of the emperor as pontifex maximus.
C) governed by the rulings of Church councils such as that at Nicea.
D) governed by a policy of forced conversions.
E) in keeping with the stoic ideal of Marcus Aurelius by regarding everyone as equal.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Christian Church in the Roman Empire became closely aligned with the imperial rule of the emperor as pontifex maximus. This meant that non-Christians were expected to follow the same religious practices as the emperor, which often led to tension and conflict. The Church also had the power to enforce its beliefs through the use of state authority, making forced conversions a real possibility. While the Christian tradition of loving one's enemy and the stoic ideal of regarding everyone as equal were certainly present in Christian teachings, they did not always guide the actions of those in power within the Church. Councils such as that at Nicea were important for defining Christian beliefs and practices, but they did not necessarily dictate how the Church interacted with non-Christians.

Once the Christian Church Gained Ascendancy in the Roman Empire,it