Introduction
Influential people make critical decisions during certain events that eventually change the course of history. The acceptance of Christianity by Constantine the Great led to a new religious practice whereby followers of the Roman Empire began to embrace the faith. Assuming that Constantine had converted to Mithraism, chances remain high that the world could have taken a different path.
Discussion
Historians agree that Constantine’s acceptance of Christianity allowed more preachers, gentiles, and foreigners to start practicing the Christian worldview (Warmind 49). With the Romans constructing extensive infrastructure and unifying people across Europe and Asia, it became possible for the religion to grow within a short period. The Romans allowed more individuals, irrespective of their regional and spiritual backgrounds, to convert and join the religion.
Constantine’s decision to practice Mithraism could have altered the history of Christianity as many people understand it today. For instance, the subsequent hierarchical power dynamics and connections existing in the Roman Empire would have revolved around Mithraism (Warmind 52). Such an alternative move means that the Romans and other people around the Mediterranean region could have continued to practice Mithraism for many centuries. This outcome would have been possible due to Constantine’s influence and the willingness of the Roman Empire to support such a religion.
The absence of infrastructure, opposition by the Roman army, and reduced support from Constantine would have complicated the situation for the spread and growth of Christianity. Such a choice could have compelled more people to convert to Mithraism to pursue their career goals in life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this alternate course of history does not mean that Christianity might not have spread to become the dominant religion of the West. The reasoning behind such an argument is that most of the waves of civilization that took place between the 3rd and 7th centuries supported the growth of Christianity and Islam (Stark 95). This development weakened most of the earlier forms of worship, including Mithraism. This analysis means that the predicted divergent history could have only slowed down the growth of Christianity during Constantine’s reign.
Works Cited
Stark, Rodney. The Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History. Princeton University Press, 2020.
Warmind, Morten. “The Religious Administration of Constantine.” Temenos, vol. 54, no. 1 (2018), pp. 47-62.