Maude Aline Huttmann

The Establishment of Christianity and the Proscription of Paganism Maude Aline Huttmann

The original purpose of this dissertation was to describe the measures taken by Constantine and his successors in the fourth century to limit or destroy the pagan cults. On examining Constantine srelation to paganism, however, it became evident that it was not enough to accept him simply as the first Christian emperor; it was imperative to understand something of his personal religious belief, and his work for the Christian Church, since both, it has been claimed, contributed to the general injury from which paganism suffered during his reign. The stories of Constantine sconversion and of his edicts of toleration led the author into a tangle of disputed questions through which she has sought to make a way that may easily be traversed by anyone who cares to go over the ground again. Since the object in dealing with these particular problems and Constantine slegislation for the Christian Church was merely to aid in the comprehension of his general policy, it has seemed advisable to omit discussion of the Emperor slaws against heterodox Christianity. The question of heresy under the Christian emperors is so intricate as to demand separate treatment. The limitations of time, and the space required for the discussion of Constantine spolicy of toleration, have, unfortunately, made it impossible to complete the original scheme of incorporating in this thesis all the results of the authors researches into the legal position of paganism throughout the fourth century.
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