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Learn about the origins of Christianity by navigating through the headings at the left, or download a free journal paper (heading near the bottom). Each page provides information on how ancient Roman manipulated religious forces in Judea, softening the resistance of the Jewish people, resulting in the birth of Christianity. Historical aspects rather than traditional theological views are presented.
- The birth of Christianity coincided with the Roman occupation of Judea, amidst the impassioned conflict between two cultures.
- The early Christian writings purported obedience towards paying taxes to Rome and acceptance, beyond tolerance, of tax collectors.
- The early Christian writings purported submissiveness to oppression; turn the other cheek, love your enemies, blessed are the meek, the peacemakers.
- Christian teachings were significantly different from Judean culture, even critical of Judean Law and religious authority.
- Early Christian writings used the term Gospel in nearly identical fashion to Roman use prior to Christianity.
- The concept of deity in human form and being the son of a god, conceived from a virgin birth, existed in Roman culture prior to Christianity.
- Many of the documented miracles (such as feeding 5,000 people in a remote area) would have required the logistics of an organization with significant funding and planning (local Roman authority being a qualified candidate).
- Is it reasonable or biased, to ignore centuries of established Jewish culture, the oppression they indured during Roman occupation, the radically different nature of Jesus' teachings to a culture that had been engrained to reject outside influence and/or alterations to their religious basis?
- Jesus was very critical of Jewish religious authority and those who maintained and taught the written basis of the Jewish religion.
- The Jewish people and a Jewish court condemned Jesus to death, not Roman authority.
- Jesus is never documented as being critical of Roman authority.
- In the Gospels, Roman authority is never documented as being critical of Jesus.
- The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, argued profusely in defense of what was supposedly a Jewish peasant (Jesus) in an open public forum against an angry Jewish mob.
- Jesus survived (i.e. appeared live afterward) a Roman execution.
- Jesus spent relatively little time on the cross and the written accounts of the crucifixion mention nothing about nails being used.
- In the earliest Christian writings (the first three Gospels) no form of physical violence ocurred to Jesus while he was on the cross. Much later writings (the Gospel of John) introduced physical violence not recorded in the earlier writings.
- Roman soldiers stood guard at Jesus' tomb.
- One of the only written accounts of Jesus being referred to as the Son of God comes from a Roman centurion.
- Jesus referred to a centurion as having the greatest faith in all of Israel.
- Why did Christian philosophy spread so quickly to Rome, possibly loosing the true nature of its origins? Is it possible that Christianity had its basis in Roman ideals rather than Judean philosophy?
- A primary source of the fervent Jewish resistance to the Roman occupation was their religion (religious culture, established beliefs, and loose ethnic unity).
- Was Christianity born of human conflict - the conflict between the imperialism of the
Roman Empire and the self-perceived entitlement of the ancient Jewish culture, resulting in
Roman attempts at manipulation of religious forces in Judea? Navigate through the headings
at the left to learn more.
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