Understanding of God in Ancient Rome Essay - 1009 Words

The Roman Empire was unparalleled in the ancient world. With strong a military, technological development, and widespread infrastructure, Rome easily became the undisputed superpower of the Mediterranean. Lurking underneath this greatness was a deadly secret that caused the eventual collapse of the empire. The secret that eroded Rome, as outlined by Francis Schaffer in How Should We Then Live?, was the civilization’s understanding of God. Rome’s initial understanding of God laid the groundwork for the civilization’s fall. For a worldview to shape a person’s actions, a detailed description of God’s existence and his qualities must be outlined. From one’s definition of God, all other basic worldview questions are related and†¦show more content†¦After centuries of belief in gods who held no influence over values, average Roman citizens succumbed to anything that was gratifying when faced with the unhappiness of life. This submissi on is evidenced when Francis Schaeffer (1976) describes the later days of Rome as a people concerned with socializing and sex more than cultural or technological advancement. In Schaeffer’s opinion, Romans gave into lethargy because they did not believe in a God-given mandate to pursue moral living and progress. While this sentiment is largely due to Schaeffer’s Christian background, it is nevertheless a true statement. A civilization cannot progress without a sense that God has given it that imperative. Overall, Rome’s fall is related to its early understanding of God. In addition to the gods of Roman civilization, the later Roman concept of God in relation to the Caesars contributed to the empire’s decline. When describing the role of the Caesars in the religious life of Romans, Francis Schaeffer (1976) observes â€Å"the emperors ruled as gods†¦ [and] tried to legislate morals and family life† (p. 22). The author’s note is sign ificant in light of the Roman understanding of God. The Romans already worshiped gods who were merely exaggerated forms of humanity, but the civilization proceeded to worship a man who claimed to be a god. While the Caesars tried to maintain morality,Show MoreRelatedThe Literary Works Of The First Century Romans993 Words   |  4 PagesUnderstanding ancient civilizations is always a hard process. The only resources that are readily available, are the texts written by people of the times. But which helps better the understanding of the society and political structures: historical or literary works? The first century Romans are a great example of this. The literary works of the first century Romans, help further the knowledge about the ancient civilization. While the historical works do show a lot of the facts from the era, theRead MoreThe Colosseum : Cultural And Cultural Values1305 Words   |  6 Pagesthe societal and cultural values of Rome. 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