|
The early anti-paganism policy of Theodosius I ranged from 395 till 476. Anti-Pagan laws were emanated throughout this period, by emperors like Arcadius,〔〔〔〔〔 Honorius,〔〔〔 Theodosius II,〔〔 Marcian〔 and Leo I the Thracian. The reiterations of the bans, especially on Pagan religious rites and sacrifices, and the increases of the penalties, indicated that the "Pagan" religion had still many followers.〔〔 Significant support for Paganism was present among Roman nobles,〔 senators, magistrates,〔 imperial palace officers,〔 and other officials,〔 which often omitted to apply the edicts or protested. "Paganism" kept being followed by a large part of the population, which kept more and more undercover to formally comply with the edicts.〔 Many Christians pretended to be such while continuing Pagan practices,〔 and many converted back to Paganism; numerous laws against apostasy kept being promulgated and penalties increased since the time of Gratian and Theodosius.〔〔〔〔 Pagans were openly voicing their resentment in historical works, like the writings of Eunapius and Olympiodorus, and books blaming the Christian egemony for the 410 Sack of Rome. Christians destroyed almost all such Pagan political literature, and threatened copyists with the cutting of their hands.〔〔 Laws declared that buildings belonging to known pagans and heretics were to be appropriated by the churches.〔〔〔 St. Augustine exhorted his congregation in Carthage to smash all tangible symbols of paganism they could lay their hands on.〔 The persecution was somewhat reduced in some periods under the influence of the high-ranking general Stilicho〔〔〔〔 and under the "usurper" Joannes Primicerius;〔 a revival was attempted by Anthemius from 467.〔〔 ==Theodosius I legacy== Whilst "Paganism, with Theodosius dies, never to rise again", according to a Christian historian〔"A History of the Church", Philip Hughes, Sheed & Ward, rev ed 1949, vol I chapter 6.()〕 committed pagans continued, wherever possible, to practice their faith discreetly or under cloak of common festivals and by keeping within the letter of the law if not its spirit,〔Gibbon, Edward ''The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'', ch28〕 more commonly in the countryside, hence they are called "rustics - the pagani". Upon the death of Theodosius, in 395, the Empire was divided between his two incompetent sons. Political crisis ensued; over the next several decades, the defence of the Empire gradually collapsed. During this prolonged disaster, some Christians became less certain of their religion and converted back to the old religion. Pagans blamed the Christians for the disasters affecting the empire.〔Eunapius reflects some of the Pagan attitudes of this period in his writings.〕 Despite the pleas of many pagans for tolerance, Honorius and Arcadius continued the work of their father by enacting even more anti-paganism laws to stop any revival of paganism. The fact that they had to keep repeating their threats by the enactment of numerous laws against the practice of Paganism indicates that their efforts did not succeed in stamping out the old religion, which continued to be practiced discreetly.〔Theodosian Code 16.5.41〕〔〔〔〔〔 During the early part of the reign of Honorius, Stilicho was able to exercise unlimited power over the west. Stilicho exercised moderation in his religious policies and enacted laws that were favorable to the Pagans. Consequently, during the time in which Stilicho held power, the Pagans enjoyed a brief respite from persecution. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Early anti-paganism policy of Theodosius I until the fall of the Roman Empire」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|