What was the current religion when jesus was born?
Posted by admin on 9 Dec 2008 10:20 am. Filed under Religion & Spirituality.
Lizzie
I mean, i’ve always wondered about this, what religion were the romans, i meen i know that the Jews had a hard time because The roman army used to inforce their religon on them but what was that religon?
thanks in advance
–xLizzie.
Just to say, im not atually a chatholic, i follow no religion, i dont really belive in Jesus, But thatnx everyone for your help! This was also a bit of my history homework, and partly R.E! thankies!
I mean, i’ve always wondered about this, what religion were the romans, i meen i know that the Jews had a hard time because The roman army used to inforce their religon on them but what was that religon?
thanks in advance
–xLizzie.
Just to say, im not atually a chatholic, i follow no religion, i dont really belive in Jesus, But thatnx everyone for your help! This was also a bit of my history homework, and partly R.E! thankies!
15 Comments to “What was the current religion when jesus was born?”
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On December 10th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Pagans.
I sincerely hope the answerer below was kidding when he said that Christianity was around when Jesus was born. Unfortunately, I don’t think he was. Sad.
On December 12th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
mythology of the gods
On December 14th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Christan like what i m now.
On December 16th, 2008 at 6:14 am
i think it was paganism and worshipping of the sun
On December 19th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
mythology.
they had their many gods.
like the greeks.
On December 20th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Roman religion was divided into two. Spirits watched over people, families and households, and the paterfamilias was in charge of the household worship that honored them.
Romans also had a set of public gods, such as Jupiter and Mars. State worship was much more formal: colleges of priests paid tribute to these gods on behalf of Rome itself.
Divine blessing
The objective of Roman worship was to gain the blessing of the gods and thereby gain prosperity for themselves, their families and communities.
Emperors understood the central importance of religion to the lives of the Romans and used it for their own ends. Augustus appointed himself as the chief priest – or Pontifex Maximus – and used the appearance of Halley’s Comet to claim that he was, himself, the son of a god.
Cult worship
Unlike most religions today, the Roman gods did not demand strong moral behavior. Roman religion involved cult worship. Approval from the gods did not depend on a person’s behavior, but on perfectly accurate observance of religious rituals. Each god needed an image – usually a statue or relief in stone or bronze – and an altar or temple at which to offer the prayers and sacrifices.
On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:00 am
The romans had many gods.
On December 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Gnosticism, false gods, like Zeus, Apollos, they followed Plato
etc. It’s not any different today with New Age and other
cults and false religions. The Roman army followed Mythraism
and many came to Christ thru Paul when in prison.
On December 27th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I think Mary was A jew
On December 29th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Judaism. Whoever lead the Roman Empire was said to be the man god on earth.
On December 29th, 2008 at 10:28 am
There was Judaism, in which Jesus was raised, and various forms of paganism.
On December 30th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Judaism was the religion that Jesus parents were following at His birth. The Romans were primarily pagans and followed multiple gods and their emperors. The Romans didn’t necessarily care what the Jews worshipped as long as once a year they would, “Hail, Caesar!” basically call him a god. They wouldn’t do that and therefore they were persecuted.
On January 1st, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Lizzie,
Roman Religion was as complex as any other religion. To simply write it off as “Pagan” is a little simplistic and smacks of Judeo-Christan bigotry. Yes, the Romans had a vast pantheon of gods and goddesses, each being a patron of some facet of Roman society. From Jupiter, also known as Zeus due to the fact that the Romans adopted a some of their culture from the Greek, to the less known Cloacina, goddess of sewers and toilets.
Without a concept of natural science, the Romans saw it as quite logical to attribute the natural phenomenon of the world to a vast group of gods that kept the cosmos spinning from behind the scenes.
As the Roman Republic collapsed and the Empire was established, it became common practice to worship dead emperors as gods. After all, the Romans saw their emperors, at least the good ones, as emperors of the civilized world. It was only natural that they should ascend to the heavens and take up a place with the gods upon their death.
So, to answer your question, if you refer to Roman “Paganism” as simply, Roman State Religion, people, at least any educated types, will know what you are talking about.
On January 3rd, 2009 at 5:19 am
In the before Christ they worships lords and graven images it is hard for me to explain. The Romans and Greeks had their own set of gods. Our true God was know before Jesus was born. Study the old prophets. Isaiah, Daniel. God Bless
On January 3rd, 2009 at 10:31 am
They were Pagans. You know the Roman mythology? That used to be part of someone’s religion. Hopefully someday your Jesus will be classified as mythology as well.