Constantine versus Christ: The Triumph of IdeologyThe subject of this book is politics and religion, the relationship between Constantine and Christianity. Something happened in the reign of the Emperor Constantine that transformed both politics and religion in Europe, and anyone who seeks to understand modern Christianity must analyze this transformation and its consequences. The reign of Constantine is remembered as the victory of Christianity over the Roman Empire; the subtitle of the book indicates a more ominous assessment: "the triumph of ideology." Through a careful analysis of the sources, Dr. Kee argues that Constantine was not in fact a Christian and that the sign in which he conquered was not the cross of Christ but a political symbol of his own making. However, that is only the beginning of the story. For Constantine, religion was part of an imperial strategy, and the second part of this book shows just what that strategy was. Here is the development which marks a transition to a further stage, the way in which by using Christianity for his own ends, Constantine transformed it into something completely different. Constantine, Dr. Kee argues, along with his biographer and panegyrist Eusebius, succeeded in replacing the norms of Christ and the early church with the norms of imperial ideology. Why it has been previously thought that Constantine was a Christian is not because what he believed was Christian, but because what he believed came to be called Christian. And that represents "the triumph of ideology." |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Gods at | 7 |
Divine Patronage | 23 |
Labarum | 37 |
Part Two Constantines Religious Policy | 49 |
Against Pagan Despisers | 70 |
The Assembly of Saints | 79 |
Legislation on Religion | 88 |
Constantines Covenant Religion | 117 |
The Great Reversal | 128 |
The Labarum or the Cross | 141 |
The New Imperial Cult | 153 |
Constantine and Political Theology | 166 |
Notes | 176 |
183 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
already argument Arius authority Baynes beginning bishop Caecilian century chapter Christian faith concerned Constan Constantine's religion context conversion Council of Nicaea course covenantal covenantal religion cross of Christ death Diocletian dispute Donatist early church earth Easter edicts Emperor Empire enemies eternal Eusebius describes Eusebius of Nicomedia evidence evil examine example fact fulfilled Galerius God’s gods Gospel heaven Holy Sepulchre imitation imperial cult important interpretation issue Jesus Jews Judaism king kingdom labarum Lactantius letter Licinius Logos manifest Marxism matter Maxentius Maximian Messiah mimesis monotheism oration oration In Praise pagan persecution phrase piety political position Praise of Constantine present Constantine question reason reference to Christ relationship religion of Constantine religious legitimation religious policy revelation Rome rule ruler salvation saving sign Saviour schism seen simply Sol Invictus speak spiritual symbol tetrarchy theological things tradition trophy truth unity values of Constantine victory Vita Constantini