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REPORT: THE RISE OF CHRISTIANITY
Using the Internet, an encyclopedia, or other resources, research the conditions in the Roman Empire which allowed Christianity to grow while the Empire itself declined. Focus your research between the years A.D. 90 and A.D. 400. Consider why religions tend to grow in times of conflict or trial. Write a report of 600-750 words.



The Roman Empire: Around 250 AD:

Earlier In the history of the Roman Empire, Christianity had been banned; and rejected from one of the Roman religions. As time went on, and the Empire began to lose its great leaders, the people had to look for a new source of security.
In the Third Century, due to invasions and other political issues, the Roman Empire lost their Philosophical and Religious beliefs. Due to confusion, people began to lean toward newer religions, like, Muslimism and Christianity. Tragedies usually make one doubt their religion, and draw toward something new. I think this is what helped inspire Christianity. Since, nothing worked before (their previous religion) they decided to try something new.
When Christianity began to appeal to people who craved for something to fulfill their empty hole, there pain and suffering, it began to improve in popularity. God never leaves his sons and daughter forsaken, since they believed; God came through for them, gave them hope that helped them prevail. Although this is probably what happens during chaos, in the good times is usually when we start to be skeptical. Usually when things are going right we tend to not care about what we believe in, or who will help us in the times to come; when things go right we don’t tend to worry about the things that might go wrong. Perhaps, people began to ponder on the thoughts of the perfected life above us (heaven, or some Godly domain); and the paradise most of us will begin to inherit after our time of departure. Did current events happen during medieval times, which made it evident that some God had to be there, and that due to certain observations and experimentations only one God could be logical for the miracles at hand? When all hope was lost in the hardships of their lives, perhaps, only one light seemed to gleam out of that tunnel of darkness, maybe someone heard the voice of God and began to share with various people his prophecy.
Something must have sparked Christianity, for it to have grown so much over the years. Miracles can do miraculous things to people…; they can make them doubt, turn toward different things, or even make them believe in a superior leader (God). Either way, God found way to some of those people, in what seemed in hard times, so maybe its in times of dejection that makes us go to our humble “father”. Like I said, during the times of joy and hope we tend to forget who it is who allows us to feel that way; the person who directs us in the way that will keep us from stumbling or falling over onto our face. It is then, when we find ourselves trapped and incapable of proceeding into the ways of success and triumph. God works in mysterious ways…so to answer this essay’s question: the only person who truly knows in which ways God works best, would be God. I might think it is in times of peril or in times of defeat, despair; but only God himself can know his own design for the world. He alone can decide whether to let us “touch the burning hot stove” or “swat our hand and tell us not to do it again”; that is up to him.