ome came into contact with a wide variety of religions, often termed the Oriental religions. These were tolerated for the sake of unity within the Empire and, as Rome itself became increasingly involved with the East in trade, administration and communication, these cults were accepted and embraced by many. However, it is important to note that these new cults were accepted because they fit into the framework of the Roman State. They did not upset the dominant position of the state cult รป that is, they were deemed politically and morally safe. In addition, they offered the Roman a more emotional relig-ious outlet, a view of the afterlife, a more personal religious experience than did the state religion.
If Rome was extraordinarily tolerant of alien religions, why then did Roman attitudes turn against Christianity to the point of persecution? The essence lies in the fact that Christians, unlike the devotees of the Oriental cults, refused to do homage to the state gods and, in particular, to the emperor. In this they were not unlike their Jewish parent religion. Traditionally the Jews had been a problem for the Romans in their fierce exclusiveness, nationalism and religious beliefs. To handle this race, Rome grated various concessions: civil and religious affairs were in the hands of the Jewish Council, and they coined their own money without the emperor's image. In this way the Empire was able to maintain an uneasy truce with the Jews; all Rome required was that the Jews furnish tribute and live in peace with their neighbors. Thus, the Roman government had a longstanding agreement with the Jewish race, a historical understanding.
In its early years Christianity enjoyed religious freedom. However, this was largely due to the fact that it had not yet been recognized as a religion separate from Judaism, as it initially flourished in Jewish areas. And even when recognized, Rome treated it as a rather insignificant off sh...