Germanic Kings Beliefs Of Christians, The Romans, And The Greeks

1. Germanic Kings like those of the Franks and the Visigoths were enthusiastic Christians because they believed they could win any war as long as God was on their side. Theodoric was planning on fighting the king of the Thuringi, and knew that they would win if they could have God on their side. “Promising king Chlotar a part of the plunder if the gift of victory be conferred on them by God…” The only plan Theodoric had was to believe in God and hope that everything would go right.
(Gregory, Bishop of Tours)

2. Germanic Kings like those of the Franks and the Visigoths were reluctant Christians because they did not want to believe in Christianity unless it would benefit them. When Clovis, King of the Franks, realized his army was about to lose,
he prays and asks Jesus for help, “I bed the glory of your help, such that if you grant me victory… I will believe in you and be baptized in your name.” Clovis did not want to be a Christian until he realized it was going to benefit him. He asked Jesus for help, mainly just to win the war.
(Gregory, Bishop of Tours)

3.
Germanic Kings like those of the Franks and the Visigoths were indifferent Christians Theodoric II did not seem to really care about much. Even though he was royalty he did not do things that normal royal people would do. “His banquets do not differ from those of a private gentleman. You never see the vulgarity of a vast mass of tarnished plate, heaped upon a groaning table by a puffing and perspiring slave.” Theodoric II did not differentiate himself from other people. He did not want to be seen as a greater power, he wanted to seem like a normal person.
(Portrait of a Visigothic
King)

4. Christianity had a substantial impact upon daily life in the Post Roman World because believing in God led many armies to victory. Even when the odds were against them. Thuringi had traps set up where there is a ditch with a thick turf laid over, making it seem like a level plain. When people went over the ditch, they would fall in. “But after learning of this trap they began to watch out for it. And then when the Thurungi saw themselves being fiercely slaughtered, and with the flight of their king Hermenfred, they turned their backs….” Christianity made people believe that as long as you believed in God, you could accomplish anything. Christianity gave people willpower.
(Gregory, Bishop of Tours)

5.
Christianity had an insubstantial impact upon daily life in the Post Roman World because it destroyed the original Roman culture. The religious beliefs of Romans turned from polytheistic to monotheistic. Tertullian believed that they should have defended Christian morals, “The art which destroys as much as it builds.” Christianity built a whole new religion while destroying a whole other religion. Christianity had an insubstantial impact because it destroyed the original religion.
(What has Jerusalem to do with Athens?)

6. Germanic peoples valued simplicity, and had a relaxed courtly culture. They simplified the culture and made it more relaxed by only looking at bigger problems; they did not pay attention to any of the smaller problems. They thought the small problems do not matter and that they should not pay attention to them. “Raising Ourself above small and comparatively insignificant matters.” They rose themselves above small problems, showing that the small problems are not worthy of being recognized.
(Corpus Juris Civilis:
Prologue)

7. Germanic peoples valued simplicity, and had a strict courtly culture. They wanted to keep everything maintained. Germanic peoples believed that they needed to depend on God, not themselves. “We adorn peace and maintain the Constitution of the State, and have such confidence in the protection of Almighty God.” Germanic peoples kept a strict culture because they believed that the way to keep peace is having a serious belief in religion. (Corpus Juris Civilis: Prologue)

8. Christianity is the most important link between Rome and its successor states rule by Germanic tribes. Christianity provided peace, stability, and success in the states ruled by Germanic tribes. Christianity helped build up an empire, “With the aid of God governing Our Empire which was delivered to Us.” Christianity links Rome and its successor states, by creating the successor states.
(Corpus Juris Civilis: Prologue)

9. The Laws are the most important link between Rome and its successor states ruled by Germanic tribes. The Laws incorporated Christianity into them, making God a part of their government. The Laws show that God is helping govern the empire. They have success from their past to the future, “We carry on war successfully. We adorn peace and maintain Constitution of the State.” The Laws link the Germanic Tribes to Christianity, which links them to Rome.
(Corpus Juris Civilis: Prologue)

10. Tertullian is correct in objecting to Greek philosophy’s influence on Christianity. Greek philosophy helped give what was needed for heresies, a belief that is against orthodox religion. “It is philosophy that supplies the heresies with their equipment.” If Greek philosophy supplied information that is against Christianity, it would have a negative influence on Christianity. Greek philosophy only had negative effects on Christianity.
(What has Jerusalem to do with Athens?)