IPFS News Link • Hoax?
Church Under State
• LewRockwell.com By Paul GreenIn AD 313 he stopped the persecution and instead tried to get the now powerful and influential churches aboard his ship of state. To this end, Constantine decided to kick-start the process by showing church leaders just what government force could do for them.
He began in AD 316 by responding to the call of a regional church leader for help in dealing with some heretics called the "Donatists". Since the government can exist only by violence (otherwise it cannot collect tax or enforce rules) Constantine, therefore, assisted this church leader by doing what government does best: He sent in troops to kill a number of the Donatists and to close their churches.
To some Christian leaders, this appeared to be a new and easier way to spread the Word – by killing or crushing opponents to it. In fact, as a PR tactic it worked so well that in just a few years, Constantine felt confident enough to convene a number of the formally recognized Christian Bishops under his own auspices.
Around 300 of them in all, with their entourages, were paid and flattered into attending the "First Council of Nicaea" in AD 325.
1 Comments in Response to Church Under State
Talking about the failure to stifle the church is like talking about trying to stifling God. In America, at the formation of the United States of America, some of the founders were trying to uphold God, while other founders were trying to stifle Him. The reason that they both could work together was because of the threat of the British monarchy. Today, we see both parts in the Constitution and Amendments. But those who want to stifle God advertise louder. For the people and for God: 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Amendments. Properly used they can limit Government at its core, by limiting wicked, greedy people in Government. Use it or Lose it.