The northern frontier: Christianity face to face with paganism
Ian Wood
Officially the Roman Empire had been Christianized by end of fourth century. Although barbarians who crossed its frontiers in and fifth centuries were pagan, majority them soon accepted Christianity. By sixth century religion even spread beyond borders what empire. Christians to be found Celtic west, notably Ireland, also heartlands Germany land Thuringians. On other hand Christianity was no means a monolithic religion, old heartlands. The leaders church might have wanted it be, but bishops Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, name three, frequently differed their own definitions religion. Moreover different regions groups adopted doctrines patterns organization, not least because preexisting social patterns. This is most obvious region as distinctive every part Christendom practices: liturgy well attachment saints cults. depth Christianization matter concern. Many pre-Christian practices intended ensure good harvests or safe childbirth, predict weather, ward off evil abandoned, indeed some cases would abandoned until into modern period. Leading bishops, whose religious commitment radically more impressive than that population, understood demands made, very differently from laity.
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