Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 83 No. 2, 2013.
Pregledni rad
The Understanding and Application of Tolerance in a Persecuted, a Free Constantinian, and a State Church
Grgo Grbešić
orcid.org/0000-0003-0140-6697
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet u Đakovu Sveučilišta Josipa Jurja Strossmavera u Osijeku, Đakovo, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The article treats the issue of tolerance in the first five centuries. Jesus approached public sinners, heretics, and gentiles in the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount. He did not exclude anyone from his Kingdom. During the persecution in the Roman Empire, the Christians defended the freedom of conscience in religious matters and, thus, they were the first to introduce a dualism between religion and state. This dualism disappeared when Christianity became the religion of the state. Tolerance was not well received in the Church for a long time, because it was perceived as a sin against the truth, love, and country. »The Edict of Milan« treated all religions as having equal rights. Constantine sympathised and supported Christianity, but he did not force pagans to convert to it. Constantine introduced cesaropapism in the Church. This political system will be much more prominent in the Byzantine than in the Western Church. The danger of emperors meddling in the affairs of the Church was recognised by the Church Fathers, among whom Ambrosius, Hilary of Poitiers, and Atanasius certainly deserve to be mentioned. Donatist riots and violence in the North Africa forced Augustine to ask for the help from the state, after years of unsuccessful attempts of negotiation. This will lead to disastrous consequences in the Middle Ages when intolerance reached its peak.
Ključne riječi
tolerance; persecutions; freedom of conscience; »Edict of Milan«; Constantine
Hrčak ID:
105298
URI
Datum izdavanja:
8.7.2013.
Posjeta: 2.221 *