Lesson 1: Religion in the Roman Empire (The Growth of Christianity)
Roman Attitude Toward Religion 🏺
The Romans were usually very open about religion. They believed in many gods, like Jupiter, Mars, and Venus. When Rome conquered new lands, they often accepted the local gods too! They believed that worshipping many gods would keep the empire strong.
Romans thought it was important for everyone to respect the Roman gods and the emperor, even if people also had their own gods.
Why Romans Banned Some Religions 🚫🙏
The Romans were fine with many religions, but they had one big rule:
➡️ You must not offend the Roman gods or refuse to honor the emperor.
If a religion said, "No, we cannot worship your gods or emperor," the Romans got angry. They thought this could bring bad luck to Rome.
Some banned religions were seen as dangerous because they made people too different from Roman customs.
Romans worried that these groups could start rebellions.
Major Religious Difference Between Romans and Jews ✡️🏛️
One big difference was that the Jews believed in only one God (this is called monotheism), while the Romans believed in many gods (polytheism).
Jews refused to worship Roman gods or the emperor because it went against their beliefs.
This sometimes caused tension between Jews and Roman leaders.
But Rome usually let the Jews practice their religion — at first — because it was very old and respected.
The Anticipation of the Messiah’s Arrival 🌟👑
At the time of the Roman Empire, many Jews were waiting for a Messiah — a special leader sent by God to save them.
Many Jews thought that if they followed the law very strictly, the Messiah would come faster.
They followed Jewish laws very carefully — laws about food, holidays, and how to live.
They believed that being faithful and pure would help bring about a new time of freedom and peace.
The Roots of Christianity ✝️🌿
During this time of waiting for the Messiah, something very important happened.
A man named John the Baptist appeared. 🧔💧 He traveled around, telling people,
"Repent! Change your hearts!"
He baptized people in the Jordan River as a sign that they were ready for the Messiah.
Then, a young man from Nazareth named Jesus began teaching. 📖
Jesus talked about love, forgiveness, and God's Kingdom.
Many people believed Jesus was the Messiah they were waiting for!
Others were not sure or felt threatened by His growing group of followers.
Jesus’ followers believed that He was not just a good teacher, but the Son of God.
This belief would become the heart of a new religion: Christianity.
At first, Christianity was very small, but soon it would spread across the Roman Empire — and change history forever. 🌍✨