Original scientific paper

RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN THE FIRST CENTURIES OF CHRISTIANITY

Marko Medved orcid.org/0000-0002-2221-9121 ; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Franjo Šiljeg ; Theology of Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

The authors analyse in a frame of the first four centuries, the periods when the Christians were victims of intolerance, the periods of a tolerance of freedom, the way in which Christians related towards tolerance inside and outside their communities, and whether and how did the thinkers of the Christian antiquity pondered about tolerance. The authors, following some recent publications, question the relationship of the Roman empire towards the religious tolerance, describing the periods of intolerance towards Christians before Constantine. Special attention is given to the 4th century, with a differentiation of relationship towards tolerance after the Milan program of tolerance in the 313, until Christianity was proclaimed the state religion in 380. In spite of the lack of clarity of terms in regard to tolerance, which is a characteristic of the first centuries, the authors aim to present different points of view from Christian antiquity – spanning from the defence of the freedom of conscience for all, up to the invocation of governments’ help in suppression of heresy.

Keywords

tolerance; intolerance; persecution of Christians; Constantine; Christianity

Hrčak ID:

76145

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/76145

Publication date:

9.1.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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