Comments on: What was the current religion when jesus was born?

By: Echo

Echo — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:31:39 +0000

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.

By: stullerrl

stullerrl — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:19:06 +0000

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

By: dj_ad_cool

dj_ad_cool — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:45:33 +0000

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.

By: enamel

enamel — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:26:01 +0000

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.

By: PaulCyp

PaulCyp — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:28:15 +0000

There was Judaism, in which Jesus was raised, and various forms of paganism.

By: Lukusmcain//

Lukusmcain// — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:09:31 +0000

Judaism. Whoever lead the Roman Empire was said to be the man god on earth.

By: Hayley:)

Hayley:) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:31:51 +0000

I think Mary was A jew

By: Squid

Squid — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:37:00 +0000

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.

By: TigerLily

TigerLily — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:00:58 +0000

The romans had many gods.

By: wigginsray

wigginsray — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:24:32 +0000

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.