If you don't have standing armies and want those that do to acquiesces to your will what better way is there than to teach you must do as the Church says or your soul is in danger of being damned? If you rely on willing cooperation among indwelt Christians you can't guarantee what will happen. However, if you develop a coercive theology in which you control the "keys" to salvation compliance is easier to achieve.
We forget history. As the church of Rome became dominant the aristocracy also began to take on a large role in it's leadership. The very thing that made it strong also made it very susceptible to manipulation, the mono-bishophoric structure, which was not the structure of the Apostolic church.
If you don’t have standing armies and want those that do to acquiesces to your will what better way is there than to teach you must do as the Church says or your soul is in danger of being damned? If you rely on willing cooperation among indwelt Christians you can’t guarantee what will happen. However, if you develop a coercive theology in which you control the “keys” to salvation compliance is easier to achieve.
We forget history. As the church of Rome became dominant the aristocracy also began to take on a large role in it’s leadership. The very thing that made it strong also made it very susceptible to manipulation, the mono-bishophoric structure, which was not the structure of the Apostolic church.
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Excellent points.
Thanks.