I Am Roman Catholic

These pre-Constantine worshipers of Christ sometimes called themselves "Catholics" and the movement was often called the "The Way" and there were bishops and hierarchical structure (including a bishop of Rome), writings by the Fathers of the Church and others (including the Didache, written before the synoptic Gospels) and had liturgies. Whatever you want to call it, it was this Christian group, in an ecumenical council (recognized by all Christians) which selected the books of the Bible. But that was not the sum total of their traditions, worship and beliefs. This was a church (small 'c' if you wish) established by Christ, and infused with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

@beckychandler They were referred to in history as "Catholics" because the word catholic means universal. Even that was a misnomer because each culture of the time had their own versions of religion and their own universal god.

Constantantine was NEVER a Christian. He was a survivalist. Caesars in Rome dropped like leaves. All the people--one group or another--had to do was kill them and BINGO--new Caesar. Constantine didn't wan to die young. So he was a visionary. He realized that the only way to a long life was to kiss up to whomever he feared most. At this time in history the Christians were growing sizably in numbers and gaining more converts every day. So Constantine decided if that group was growing that fast he needed to be one of them. If you look at history Constantine never gave up the religion of Caesars--the worship of many gods--so that they could say to EVERY group, "I am one of you". Most notably Mars, Neptune, Jupiter and Diana........the Sun God. Constantine merely transformed the Temple of Diana into "churches". even the statues of Diana remained. What he did do was rename the Goddess Diana to..........Mary. Why? So the people could keep their old pagan idols but worship them still as "christians". I doubt you buy this--so look up a picture of Diana sometime and then look at a catholic picture of Mary. See anything in common....like the Sun disc behind her head?

The trick to inventing a new religion is to not replace all of the old at one time--but rather combine the old and the new so no one of the old followers rebels and some of the new will see part of what the believe there and join. Even Constantine's battle banners were only changed marginally to redesign the cross already on them.

And finally look at the organization of the Roman Catholic Church---and the organization of the Roman government. Caesar = Pope. Right on down the line. Cardinals....then Archbishops...bishops...then priests... Military/governmental structure from the top down---in power and rank. The "Catholic Church" was not a church in the beginning--except in name only. It was a conglomeration of pagan and Jewish/Christian beliefs co-mingled to keep everyone who might rise up against Constantine appeased. And for that insight Constantine was rewarded by being the first Caesar ever to die of old age--just as planned.

The early Catholic Church--and still---supported itself by taking in taxes---in the form of indulgences from the people. It kept the masses in line with the invention of Purgatory and Hell---even though Hell and especially Purgatory is not mentioned anywhere in the only portions of the Bible at the the time..the Jewish Old Testament. Look it up sometime. Hell and Purgatory are inventions of Dante and others in period literature. In fact neither word even exists in either the Hebrew or Aramaic languages....and if those words don't even exist in the languages the OT was written in------how did they get in there---unless they were added later by the church?? Because 99.9% of the masses could not read to know that--the church adopted those concepts to make sure the people had something scary to keep them in line-----to keep coming to the church--giving it money--in order to avoid that horrible punishment forever.

From top to bottom the church created by Constantine was a scam religion. It has changed little since then. This is a hard message for a Catholic to believe......but history is history. Research all of this--point by point. Then tell me what I have wrong. For your soul.........do it. THIS "church" was NOT established by Christ. In fact in the Revelation of john the antichrist will come from Rome..

@anythingoes477 In following the line to Mary........first look at Isis in Egypt. Sun God in Egypt--sun disk behind her head. Then look at Ishtar--same sun disc. Then Mary in Catholic church depecitions. Each is the evolution of the one before it. All were virgins.....all were virgin mothers of sons who were Gods.

Constantine used the Virgin Mary as a supreme being concept...not as a person. By doing so that completely contradicts the facts---what the Bible itself says about Mary being a Divine Virgin----because Jesus had an older brother---James. But that didn't stop Constantine--or catholics. Mary simply followed on the heels of goddesses such as Aphrodite, Astarte, Cybele, Demeter, Hathor, Inanna, Ishtar and Isis, and finally----Mary (a name Christians could relate too) as both divine virgin and mother, and, like the rest of them, she gives birth to a half-human, half-divine child, who dies and is reborn.

This was EXACTLY what the christians needed to hear to join that church...Mary was included..and yet the statues in the church itself were identical from previous pagans versions of "Mary". Constantine didn't even bother to change the design. The poor liked this.....no new idols to buy. The pagan idol makers in Rome and the surrounding regions loved it---they didn't end up in dead end careers with lots of non purchased inventory. They just changed the name on their idol molds-----everyone made out......including Constantine.......just as he had hoped.

@dunpender Don't be rude just because you do not agree with it. If you don't agree with that then say it but don't call it rubbish. It means a lot for some others and you should repsect that.

@dunpender Malcontent!