Gregory Aldrete

Now there is one God and only one God that's the correct answer. And as soon as you do that, religion becomes foregrounded in your decision-making much more. I mean, the Romans had religion, but it wasn't really driving anything, if you know what I mean. It was auxiliary to things rather than a central force. So for a

standard kind of, you know, I guess pagan polytheism where there's a bunch of gods, there's certain gods who are associated with the Roman state, and there would be prayer said to those gods on behalf of the Roman state, but it wasn't really, you know, you weren't trying to execute the will of Zeus or something or Jupiter or Mars or anybody else. And in your private life, it was the same thing.

standard kind of, you know, I guess pagan polytheism where there's a bunch of gods, there's certain gods who are associated with the Roman state, and there would be prayer said to those gods on behalf of the Roman state, but it wasn't really, you know, you weren't trying to execute the will of Zeus or something or Jupiter or Mars or anybody else. And in your private life, it was the same thing.

standard kind of, you know, I guess pagan polytheism where there's a bunch of gods, there's certain gods who are associated with the Roman state, and there would be prayer said to those gods on behalf of the Roman state, but it wasn't really, you know, you weren't trying to execute the will of Zeus or something or Jupiter or Mars or anybody else. And in your private life, it was the same thing.

You might ask certain gods for help, but it wasn't as much of a dominant thing in your own existence. So I think that's a real transition point where religion started to become so foregrounded. And as soon as you get the monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in particular, it really shifts how people start to think about themselves in relationship to the world around them.

You might ask certain gods for help, but it wasn't as much of a dominant thing in your own existence. So I think that's a real transition point where religion started to become so foregrounded. And as soon as you get the monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in particular, it really shifts how people start to think about themselves in relationship to the world around them.

You might ask certain gods for help, but it wasn't as much of a dominant thing in your own existence. So I think that's a real transition point where religion started to become so foregrounded. And as soon as you get the monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in particular, it really shifts how people start to think about themselves in relationship to the world around them.

Which is kind of neat that, you know, really influential people in the realm of political events and religious events coexisted. What are the odds? Yeah.

Which is kind of neat that, you know, really influential people in the realm of political events and religious events coexisted. What are the odds? Yeah.

Which is kind of neat that, you know, really influential people in the realm of political events and religious events coexisted. What are the odds? Yeah.

The thing that causes conflicts between the Romans and Christians is a little bit strange. It's all with this... where the Romans had a tradition of, on the emperor's birthday, sort of saying a prayer, basically wishing him good luck, okay? But technically, it's in the form of sacrificing to that part of the emperor that might become divine after his death.

The thing that causes conflicts between the Romans and Christians is a little bit strange. It's all with this... where the Romans had a tradition of, on the emperor's birthday, sort of saying a prayer, basically wishing him good luck, okay? But technically, it's in the form of sacrificing to that part of the emperor that might become divine after his death.

The thing that causes conflicts between the Romans and Christians is a little bit strange. It's all with this... where the Romans had a tradition of, on the emperor's birthday, sort of saying a prayer, basically wishing him good luck, okay? But technically, it's in the form of sacrificing to that part of the emperor that might become divine after his death.

So to the Romans, this is the equivalent of a patriotism act, saying, you know, the Pledge of Allegiance or something to the country. But of course, to Christians, this is worshipping another god.

So to the Romans, this is the equivalent of a patriotism act, saying, you know, the Pledge of Allegiance or something to the country. But of course, to Christians, this is worshipping another god.

So to the Romans, this is the equivalent of a patriotism act, saying, you know, the Pledge of Allegiance or something to the country. But of course, to Christians, this is worshipping another god.

And I think there's almost a failure of communication here, that the Romans just, at least initially, didn't quite understand this is really problematic for these people because they're coming from a polytheistic perspective where, yeah, everybody has different gods. So what? This isn't a religious problem. This is a political one. Why won't you send good wishes to the emperor?

And I think there's almost a failure of communication here, that the Romans just, at least initially, didn't quite understand this is really problematic for these people because they're coming from a polytheistic perspective where, yeah, everybody has different gods. So what? This isn't a religious problem. This is a political one. Why won't you send good wishes to the emperor?

And I think there's almost a failure of communication here, that the Romans just, at least initially, didn't quite understand this is really problematic for these people because they're coming from a polytheistic perspective where, yeah, everybody has different gods. So what? This isn't a religious problem. This is a political one. Why won't you send good wishes to the emperor?

If you're a loyal Roman, this is something you should want to do. And many of the early Christians I think would have been fine with that, but it took the form of what they were asked to be do was to basically worship another god. And that was the sticking point.