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Strayer 5:Big Picture Questions, #3

Religion is a double-edged sword, bothsupporting and undermining political

authority and social elites.

How would you support both sides of this statement?

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Religion is a double-edged sword, both supporting and underminingpolitical authority and social elites.

In answering this question students must consider the issue of what is and whatis not a religion.

Legalist and Confucian ideas along with Greek rationalism should be placed toone side, although students could note that (like religions) philosophies can

both support and threaten political authorities and social elites.Both Legalist and Confucian traditions are largely supportive of political authorities

and social elites,while Greek rationalism, as seen in Socrates death, could threaten the political

and social elites.

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Religion is a double-edged sword, both supporting andundermining political authority and social elites.

In support of political and socialauthority, students could readily pointto individual instances where new and

popular religions were adopted byelites.

Ashokas conversion toBuddhism in Mauryan Indiaprovides one example, thesupport of the Achaemenid

dynasty for Zoroastrianismanother.

Finally, the adoption ofChristianity by Constantineand the ultimate

reinforcement of patriarchy bythe Christian church speak tothe political and socialsupport that a new religioncould provide to establishedpower structures.

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In Hoc Signo Vinces:By this sign you will conquer.

Click here to see the video documentaryThe Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28

October 312. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become thesole ruler of the Roman Empire. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle.

According to chroniclers such as Eusebius of Caesarea and Lactantius, the battle marked the beginning ofConstantine's conversion to Christianity. Lactantius recounts that Constantine and his soldiers had a vision thatGod promised victory if they daubed the sign of the cross on their shields. The Arch of Constantine, erected incelebration of the victory, certainly attributes Constantine's success to divine intervention; however, the monumentdoes not display any overtly Christian symbolism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_P0FZfPlSA&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_P0FZfPlSA&feature=related

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The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used byChristians. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chiand rho () of the Greek word "" =Christ in such a way to

produce the monogram. Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rhoinvokes the crucifixion of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the

Christ.

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Religion is a double-edged sword, both supporting andundermining political authority and social elites.

More generally, the tendency of severalreligions to focus the believersattention away from action in thisworld also served to support politicalauthority and social elites.

This was true of Daoism in China,Buddhism in India, and Christianity inthe Roman Empire.

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Religion is a double-edged sword, both supporting andundermining political authority and social elites.

However, if followed, the teachings of many religions put realconstraints on political and social authorities. Forinstance, Ashokas adoption of Buddhism limited thescope for his legitimate use of violence.

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Religion is a double-edged sword, both supporting andundermining political authority and social elites.

Dictates about the treatment of the poor and theequality of all believers in the Christian faithbrought into question the social norms of Romansociety.

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Religion is a double-edged sword, both supporting andundermining political authority and social elites.

Religious leaders could prove subversive to the currentsystem, as the execution of Jesus by the Roman

authorities indicates.Also, the teachings of a faith could potentially challengeestablished authorities.

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Religion is a double-edged sword, both supporting andundermining political authority and social elites.

For instance, the strict monotheism practiced by earlyChristians effectively precluded the worship of Romangods, which traditionally was seen as a sign of obedienceand loyalty to the Roman Empire.