paganism

The consensus among many historians has been that the transition from paganism to Christianity in the Mediterranean world was effortlessly accomplished by the end of the fourth century. In Christianity and Paganism in the Fourth to Eighth Centuries, Ramsay MacMullen sets out to disprove the consensus, which he maintains is an understandable misinterpretation considering the "corrupt foundation" of historical records it rested upon. He makes his case by covering a wide range of material to …

…so important for Christianity to fill the gaps left by paganism. Christianity did not really absorb paganism, instead it assimilated some of its features to make the conversion of pagans easier. With the creation of the cults of the relics and patrons to watch over them, converts had to give very little up. Christianity had provided many attractive incentives to converts, without having to give anything up. This explains the expedient success Christianity had. Eighth