“I think the hardest thing to do is get an accurate picture of Christian Churches in the west that were not a part of the Roman Church. Almost all history from the late 300’s to 1400’s was written from the Roman perspective. They named these different Churches based on their geography, or the name of the leader of the church when it happened to come to their attention. It’s hard to really learn what their beliefs were or why.”
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I believe that this is true. And if true, then trying to prove “perpetuity” is also next to impossible, if it is even necessary.
I think you're right. What I've come away with so far in trying to get a good understanding of the era is that despite periods of very intense persecution there have always been bodies of believers who refused to submit to the state religion. Also, from what I gather these Christians were not noted for being aggressive or militaristic.
In most instances the Princes who ruled regions they were in left them alone because they were industrious and God fearing. It was when the Roman Churches in those regions declined that things changed.