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born physically again, then how could they be controlled? Religious leaders wanted control over their parishioners.
Society had to grow without chaos. Laws and justice had to prevail. The best way to control the masses was through the laws of God first. Then under those laws of God came the laws of the land. The thought that if one was not obedient to the laws of the land, then he would not be true to the laws of God. If this happened, he would die and his soul would go to a horrible place for eternity.
Constantine thought of this and brought to life a religion that has had a very large impact on the world.
In his early life, Constantine believed that the Roman sun god, Apollo, was the visible manifestation of the invisible Highest God. This Highest God was the principle behind the universe. He was also thought to be the companion of the Roman emperor.
Constantine was a warrior who was at war from 306 AD until 324 AD.
In 312 AD, while still at war, he had a dream that Christ appeared to him and told him to inscribe the first two letters of his name (XP in Greek) on the shields of his troops. The next day, it was said that he saw a cross superimposed on the sun and the words, in this sign, "You will be the victor." He went on to defeat Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, near Rome.
My thoughts are perhaps that he could have been psychic with just a touch of ego.
Constantine went from being a pagan sun worshipper to believing that Jesus had helped him win a war.
As in any religious war people want to know whose side Jesus or God was on? Generally, that goes to the victor.
Well, we know Constantine thought he had Jesus' full authorization to go killing others. The good part of this war was that he stopped the persecution of the Christians.
In 313 A.D., he and Licinius (co-emperor) issued the Edict of Milan, which mandated toleration of Christians in the Roman Empire.
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