Essay #10 “Roman Versions of Salvation Encountered Christianity. Oooouch!”

The Empire of Rome offered the people notions of salvation in seven forms.   They first failed at number seven.

First, The “PAX ROMANA” or Peace of Rome, brought salvation from invasion by foreign forces and salvation from crime.  Rome divided the Army into two forces.  One patrolled the outlying areas. The second acted as an internal police force.   Citizens were required to pay taxes, be peaceful, and offer incense or other public allegiance devotions to the Emperor.  Those who did not comply were fined, had property confiscated, jailed, enslaved, beheaded, burned alive, fed to beasts, crucified or killed in arenas as public entertainment.  This salvation prevailed in the first three centuries.  Around 27-180 AD. 

Second, Salvation from economic deprivation was a Roman priority.  Roads and seaports facilitated rapid distribution of foods and commerce.   Likewise belonging to one of the hundreds of Roman temples to the gods…usually brought cost sharing effectiveness so that the temple members could share fresh, nutritious, meat and other meals several times per week.   There was no refrigeration. 

Third, Salvation from disease.  Romans built garbage dumps down-wind from population centers so flies, vermin, unhealthy stench and smoke were minimized.   In cities and arenas, they build latrines to process human waste.   They forcefully quarantined disease rampant areas. They efficiently burned human and animal bodies.  

Fourth, salvation from thirst.  The Romans built aqueducts, pools and towers to channel water to the people.   Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon.  Each person consumes 2+ gallons a day.  Somebody had to carry the water from wells and distribution points.   The closer the water source to the places where people lived…was less carry work and therefore, enabled more time and energy for other chores, social, and economic wellbeing. 

Fifth, salvation from extreme selfishness.  This was delivered through spectacular parades,  music, displays and marches of military might.   To define the meaning of their lives, instead of selfish pursuits, citizens were taught that devotion to Rome; the state, was their purpose.   Service above self and civic duty were Roman core values.   

Sixth, salvation from excess fiscal confusion, haggling that previously led to hostilities, social upheavals.   Rome offered common coinage, with the Emperor’s stamp.  This promoted a mental sense of commerce certainty.    

Seventh, salvation benefits by the interventions of the temple gods, from suffering, dying too soon.  Moreover, the temple gods could include humans in eternal life salvation. 

The Romans believed that the gods romped around the heavens and intervened to help people.  To get a god’s attention one had to be an upstanding citizen.  Temple devoted.  Then acknowledge any life blessings by gratitude to the temple gods, in the form of service and offerings; money, animals, and work. 

Pax Roma lasted four centuries and longer.  The military was strong.  Taxes were collected.  Economic and infrastructure growth was underway.  Diseases were contained.  Criminals and those who challenged Pax Romana were swiftly punished or brutally killed.  But there were internal revolutions and growing external threats.

Into this social conundrum, entered Christians.  Just by being Christians, they challenged the Seventh Roman salvation system.  And therefore, the others….   They met in house gatherings, instead of high cost temples.  They taught that God loves us, and was expressed in Jesus.  They offered Baptism and Holy Communion as affirming sacramental, salvation,  events.  They offered safe communities…and grappled with ethics about the best ways to live.  They proclaimed God’s love and included them in the eternal resurrection.   All this was extended to all others.  

Early Christians did nothing fancy.   BUT there were consistent, hard working and generally upstanding citizens. They met, sang, prayed, contemplated Jesus’ message.  They believed God was with them by the Holy Spirit.   

Consequently, they were targets for prejudice and for Roman leaders to deflect blame for the results of their own incompetence when things went wrong.   Their focus on God’s saving love sustained them.  

So, early Christians gained influence and offered alternatives to temple gods.  By 325 AD there were about 60 million Romans and 2/3 were Christians or sympathizers.  The old Roman salvation systems began to … crack …