Culture, Geography, Economics, Politics, and Religion, these are the five categories I use to organize my information when writing a history paper. Based on whatever two or three areas contain the most quality information the topics of said paper practically chooses itself. A recurring trend is that religion rarely so chooses itself and any paper that has been written on religion by me is usually not done so by choice. However, the persecution of the early Christians and the effect this would have on Western Christendom is something worth delving into.
Rarely do new institutions hit the ground running after their initial start-up and Christianity was no exception.

As the religion grew, opponents, like the state of Rome, began to oppose the growing power. Christianity however, was almost buffered by these 'half-assed attempts' (Quote Dr. Andrew Devenney) at eradication. If Rome, perhaps one of the most successful empires this world has seen, had truly put all its resources to the fore Christianity would most likely have been stifled and fizzled out. However, the resistance instead would likely harden the new faith to its course.
As these executions were carried out, the most famous taking place in the Colosseum, Christianity was instead fueled to new heights. Some sects of the religion would seek to use martyrdom as a course by which Christianity could be expanded. As more innocents were slain, more became aware of their plight. A saying that still exists in business today, especially small or growing companies 'all publicity is good publicity'. It became harder and harder for the public to ignore the unjust killings of these 'religious fanatics'.

Whats more is that by the time of Constantine, Christianity was being utilized as a fix-it-all glue for the once mighty empire. Constantine publicly announced his faith and suddenly the fledgling religion boomed as temples sprouted up everywhere and some scholars estimate that 30% of the Roman Empire were involved in worship. Christianity gave the religion a new face, a common denominator that a large portion of the people could identify with. What it meant to be a true Roman citizen would be changing.



Most of the above information was found from various internet sites but these are the best sites I have found on the topics presented.

http://www.unrv.com/culture/christian-persecution.php
http://www.unrv.com/roman-republic/fall-of-roman-republic.php
http://www.unrv.com/culture/christianity-history.php
http://www.unrv.com/culture/spread-christianity.php