Differences Of Christianity In Rome And China Before 600 CE

Before 600 CE, the veneration of ancestors was common in both Roman and Chinese religions and religious ideology. During this time period, the Roman also commonly venerated figures such as Caesar and Jesus while the Chinese seemed to care more for ancestors and the concept of filial piety. Within this time period, the more traditional religious ideologies of Rome (which were polytheistic) would be challenged by the introduction of the universalizing religion of Christianity while Chinese religious ideologies would remain comparatively stagnant. While the religions of Rome during this time period included both polytheistic and monotheistic ideologies, traditional Chinese religions believed in a unifying deity referred to as Heaven. The traditional

The traditional religions of both the Roman and Chinese included ancestor veneration. Veneration in Rome included giving sacrifices to the graves of ancestors. However, Rome also venerated and celebrated figures such as Caesar and Jesus. The Chinese seemed to usually venerate their deceased ancestors through graves, shrines, and prayers and respect and treat their living elders with filial piety in mind. A major difference of the religions and religious ideologies of these regions in this time period is whether they faced great changes. In Rome, the introduction of the religion of Christianity overhauled ancient Roman beliefs with its new concepts and ideas. In Rome, Christianity, which is said to be one of the many factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire, introduced monotheistic beliefs to the Romans were whose religions and religious ideologies were previously exclusively polytheistic in nature. It is harder to categorize and define the concept of god(s) in ancient China; however, the Chinese religions clearly believed in a unifying deity they referred to as Heaven. In both Rome and China, religion and religious ideologies was constantly used to justify political authority and maintain order. In Rome, the celebration and veneration of figures such as Caesar, who was a politician, pushed Romans to obey the law and unify as a common peoples. What ideology most encouraged the Chinese people to maintain order was the concept of filial piety which, according to Confucius, began with the parents and proceeded to service of the ruler (the Chinese emperor, etc.). The of religion and religious ideologies to maintain order was also apparent in India during this time period; Indian rulers used the Hindu caste system to maintain people in their social positions and discourage and prevent