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Religious policies of Constantius II (view source)
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The '''religious policies of Constantius II''' were a mixture of toleration for some pagan practices and repression for other pagan practices. He also sought to advance the Arian or Semi-Arianian [[heresy]] within [[Christianity]]. These policies may be contrasted with the religious policies of his father, [[Constantine the Great]], whose Catholic orthodoxy was espoused in the Nicene Creed and who largely tolerated paganism in the Roman Empire. Constantius also sought to repress [[Judaism]]. | The '''religious policies of Constantius II''' were a mixture of toleration for some [[pagan]] practices and repression for other pagan practices. He also sought to advance the Arian or Semi-Arianian [[heresy]] within [[Christianity]]. These policies may be contrasted with the religious policies of his father, [[Constantine I|Constantine the Great]], whose Catholic orthodoxy was espoused in the Nicene Creed and who largely tolerated paganism in the Roman Empire. Constantius also sought to repress [[Judaism]]. | ||
==Policies concerning paganism== | ==Policies concerning paganism== | ||
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Constantius II's legislation began with the banning of the pagan practice of sacrifice. This was in keeping with his personal maxim was: ''Cesset superstitio; sacrificiorum aboleatur insania'' (Let superstition cease; let the folly of sacrifices be abolished). According to Libanius, Constantius was effectively under the control of others who inspired him to end pagan sacrifices. | Constantius II's legislation began with the banning of the pagan practice of sacrifice. This was in keeping with his personal maxim was: ''Cesset superstitio; sacrificiorum aboleatur insania'' (Let superstition cease; let the folly of sacrifices be abolished). According to Libanius, Constantius was effectively under the control of others who inspired him to end pagan sacrifices. | ||
With the collapse of official government sanctioned pagan rites, private cults attempted to infiltrate the temples. In the year 353 Constantius prohibited pagan sacrifice under the penalty of death. He also shut down some temples, forbade access to them, and ended their subsidies of public taxes. | With the collapse of official government sanctioned [[pagan]] rites, private cults attempted to infiltrate the temples. In the year 353 Constantius prohibited pagan sacrifice under the penalty of death. He also shut down some temples, forbade access to them, and ended their subsidies of public taxes. | ||
Consistent with Christian theology, Constantius carried out on an active campaign against [[magician]]s, [[astrology|astrologers]] and other diviners. This may also be due to his becoming fearful that others might use these means to make someone else emperor. | Consistent with Christian theology, Constantius carried out on an active campaign against [[magician]]s, [[astrology|astrologers]] and other diviners. This may also be due to his becoming fearful that others might use these means to make someone else emperor. | ||
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Some Christians encouraged the emperor to take even more extreme measures in their zeal to stamp out paganism, e.g. in the aftermath of the abolition of sacrifices. Firmicus Maternus, a convert to [[Christianity]], urged: "Paganism, most holy emperors, must be utterly destroyed and blotted out, and disciplined by the severest enactments of your edicts, lest the deadly delusion of the presumption continue to stain the Roman world" and "How fortunate you are that God, whose agents you are, has reserved for you the destruction of idolatry and the ruin of profane temples." | Some Christians encouraged the emperor to take even more extreme measures in their zeal to stamp out paganism, e.g. in the aftermath of the abolition of sacrifices. Firmicus Maternus, a convert to [[Christianity]], urged: "Paganism, most holy emperors, must be utterly destroyed and blotted out, and disciplined by the severest enactments of your edicts, lest the deadly delusion of the presumption continue to stain the Roman world" and "How fortunate you are that God, whose agents you are, has reserved for you the destruction of idolatry and the ruin of profane temples." | ||
Constantius enacted another law that exacted a fine from those who were guilty of vandalizing sites holy to pagans and placed the care of these monuments and tombs under the pagan priests. | Constantius enacted another law that exacted a fine from those who were guilty of vandalizing sites holy to pagans and placed the care of these monuments and tombs under the [[pagan]] priests. | ||
===Policies concerning Christianity=== | ===Policies concerning Christianity=== | ||