Episodes

8 episodes in this season

Jesus the Jew

60 min

Now Playing

Rome

60 min

Dark Ages

60 min

Crusades

60 min

Reformation

60 min

Dark Continents

60 min

God and the Scientists

60 min

The Future of Christianity

60 min

Christianity: A History

TV Series

20091h

Documentary

Now playing

Rome

Season 1 · Episode 2 · Jan 18, 2009

Michael Portillo investigates the legacy of the Roman Emperor Constantine - the man who transformed Christianity from a clandestine handful of followers of Jesus Christ into one of the world's great religions with a global reach of over two billion worshipers. In 312AD Constantine is believed to have had some sort of religious epiphany or vision that converted him from Paganism - the traditional faith of Roman Emperors - to the new faith of Christianity. This transformed a persecuted cult into a religion of power and privilege within the Empire - with Constantine as head of both state and church. Michael Portillo, a lapsed Catholic himself, uses his politician's mind to unravel the process by which Constantine and the church came together and questions how ruthless imperialism came to be reconciled with Christ's pacifist, altruistic values. Portillo's conclusion is that once enthroned in a position of power, the church never looked back - and this has been a disaster for Christianity because 'power is for politicians and not for churchmen'.

More details

Christianity: A History

TV Series

20091h

Documentary

Now playing

Rome

Season 1 · Episode 2 · Jan 18, 2009

More details