Matthew Johnson wrote:

> >after all, it was invented by a pagan emperor
> >named constantine, no?
>
> No. Where _do_ you get your misinformation? He was no pagan, as he
showed by
> BANNING pagan sacrificed within the city limits of his new capital,
> Constantinople.

Well lets be honest here.  Constantine embraced what would unify the
state.  He banned pagan sacrifices and temple attendence but did not
ban paganism expressly.  How could he?  He never made Christianity the
state religion.   Julian's restoration of freedom to worship what you
will betrayed the fact that paganism was still alive and well.  It was
Theodosius I who made Christianity the exclusive religion of the state
in 380 and was so recognized officially in 395.  However, paganism was
not erased until 529 when Justinian closed the school of philosophy at
Athens.
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