The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire XV

The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon — In The West

Scope Of Chapter XV.
The progress of the Christian religion, and the sentiments, manners, numbers, and condition of the primitive Christians
Importance of the Inquiry, Its Difficulties
Five Causes of the Growth of Christianity
I. The First Cause	Zeal of the Jews, Its gradual Increase Their Religion better suited to Defence than to Conquest More liberal Zeal of Christianity Obstinacy and Reasons of the believing Jews The Nazarene Church of Jerusalem The Ebionites The Gnostics Their Sects, Progress, and Influence The Daemons considered as the Gods of Antiquity Abhorrence of the Christians for Idolatry Ceremonies Arts Festivals Zeal for Christianity
II. The Second Cause.	The Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul among the Philosophers, Pagans of Greece and Rome, Barbarians, Jews, Christians Approaching End of the World Doctrine of the Millennium Conflagration of Rome and of the World The Pagans devoted to Eternal Punishment
III. The Third Cause.	Miraculous Powers of the Primitive Church Their Truth contested Our Perplexity in defining the Miraculous Period Use of the primitive Miracles
IV. The Fourth Cause.	Virtues of the first Christians Effects of their Repentance Care of their Reputation Morality of the Fathers Principles of Human Nature The primitive Christians condemn Pleasure and Luxury Their Sentiments concerning Marriage and Chastity Their Aversion to the Business of War and Government
V. The Fifth Cause.	The Christians active in the Government of the Church Its primitive Freedom and Equality Institution of Bishops as Presidents of the College of Presbyters Provincial Councils Union of the Church Progress of Episcopal Authority Pre-eminence of the Metropolitan Churches Ambition of the Roman Pontiff Laity and Clergy Oblations and Revenue of the Church Distribution of the Revenue Excommunication Public Penance The Dignity of Episcopal Government
Recapitulation of the Five Causes
Weakness of Polytheism
The Scepticism of the Pagan World proved favourable to the new Religion As well as the Peace and Union of the Roman Empire
Historical View of the Progress of Christianity In the East, The Church of Antioch, In Egypt, In Rome In Africa and the Western Provinces Beyond the Limits of the Roman Empire
General Proportion of Christians and Pagans
Whether the first Christians were mean and ignorant Some Exceptions with regard to Learning Some Exceptions with regard to Rank and Fortune
Christianity most favourably received by the Poor and Simple Rejected by some eminent Men of the first and second Centuries
Their Neglect of Prophecy Their Neglect of Miracles
General Silence concerning the Darkness of the Passion