Accepted Quote by Rodney Stark
“Far too long, historians have accepted the claim that the conversion of the Emperor Constantine (ca. 285-337) caused the triumph of Christianity. To the contrary, he destroyed its most attractive and dynamic aspects, turning a high-intensity, grassroots movement into an arrogant institution controlled by an elite who often managed to be both brutal and lax.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of Christianity, 2007
Constantine’s conversion transformed Christianity from a vibrant movement into an elite, sometimes oppressive institution.
In simple terms: Constantine changed Christianity’s nature.
Key Takeaway
Beware institutionalization of movements.
Themes
religion
history
power
institution
elite
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
historical
theological
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- policy making
- historical research
- faith communities
Key Concepts
theology
sociology
political authority
Questions to Reflect On
- How does power affect religious expression?
- What lessons apply to modern institutions?
A Different Perspective
May simplify complex religious dynamics.
![“How could the Christian Church, apparently quite willingly, accommodate this weird megalomaniac [Constantine] in it's theocratic system? Was there a conscious bargain? Which side benefited most form this unseemly marriage between church and state? Or, to put it another way, did the empire…” quote by Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/091/paul-johnson-4585_christian-church_how-could-the-christian-church-apparentl_1620191.jpg)
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
