Heresy, Schism, and Persecution in the Later Roman Empire
Heresy, Schism, and Persecution in the Later Roman Empire
This chapter analyses how the Church, after enduring persecution during its first three centuries, emerged as a triumphant and highly effective persecuting force during the next three centuries, with pagans, Jews, Manichees, and Christian heretics as its victims. In contrast to the pre-Christian Roman Empire, which was remarkably willing to accept most new religions, Christianity was a jealous religion and quickly used the privileges secured through Constantine's conversion to involve the Roman state in enforcing its wishes. The conflict in North Africa between Donatists and Catholics provided the trigger, but also demonstrated the problems of enforcing imperial wishes on groups whose earlier experience of persecution had stiffened their resolve. The evidence for the rigour of the Church's views on the persecution of heresy is analysed, before an editorial appendix considers the wider issue of religious toleration in classical antiquity and how the triumph of Christianity affected this.
Keywords: the Church, Donatists, toleration, Catholics, Christian heretics
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