Edict of Constantine and Licinius, joint Augusti ( Emperors ), 313 A.D.
ESSENDOCI INCONTRATI A MILANO
IO CONSTANTINO AUGUSTO
ED
IO LICINIO AUGUSTO
ABBIAMO GIUDICATO CHE
FRA TUTTI GLI ATTI GIOVEVOLI AGLI UOMINI
ED
OSSEQUIOSI VERSO LA DIVINITA’
QUESTO BISOGNASSE COMPIERE
PRIMA DI OGNI ALTRO---:
DARE AI CRISTIANI
E A TUTTI
PIENA LIBERTA’
DI SEGUIRE OGNUNO
LA RELIGIONE CHE VOGLIA
AFFINCHE’ QUANTO E’ DI DIVINO NELLA SEDE CELESTE
SI RIVOLGA PLACATO E PROPIZIO
A NOI
E
A TUTTI I NOSTRI SUDDITI.
( A translation from the italian document cast in bronze on one of the doors of the Duomo,
the Cathedral at Milano, Lombardy, Italy ).
Proclamation by the Augusti, Costantine and Licinius, joint Emperors ( 313 A.D.)
Upon our encounter at Milano
I, Constatine Augustus
and I, Licinio Augustus have come to the conclusion
that of all the determinations which are beneficial to humanity
and respectful of the divine
this should be reached-: To give to chritians and to all full discretion to the effect that
everyone may practice
whichever religion one may choose so that the divine
that resides in the heavenly abode may favourably and forgivingly
consider us and all our subjects.
Note-: Please notice that I have not used the word
freedom ( used by the Emperors since they were autocratic and absolute rulers ) but
discretion in so far as one must be aware
to-day of the fact that
some religions may be obsessed in their
unreformed status with
theocratic aspirations which are incompatible with the freedom of other religions to exist and to be practiced.
Also, discretion is required to-day in view of the phenomenon of terroristic minorities
abusing religion in order to justify their violent and anti-social behaviour.
In modern democracies, a separation has been legislated between Religion and States
in order to guarantee to all the freedom and discretion everyone must mutually expect. History shows how both Constantine and Licinius were either not honest in the promulgation of this Edict,
or were forced by its being perhaps an utopia, as Constantine soon warred against and defeated Licinius,
adopted and enforced the Roman Creed as the State religion,
opposing all other religions or chistian sects,
for the sake of the security, strength and unity of the Roman Empire . The West and the World are facing to-day the same dilemma, except that we have to-day increased and more powerful communication-media by which to make people aware of the necessity to not let religious beliefs
( theological differences ) overcome common sense and decency.
What is not ever negotiable is morality and ethical behaviour founded on mutuality and reciprocity of expectations, tolerance and concessions, peace, good-will, patience,
co-operation between all. Those minorities of pseudo religious people transforming religion into a religious ideology bent into creating
chaos and lawlessness, have better beware of
Contingency-Ethics ( i.e., An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth).
I have written an Essay titled
Contingency Ethics in my blog at Telstra/BigPond/BigBlog-:
http://www.gensferreria.bigblog.com.au/index.doI also have another blog at Google/BlogSpot-:
http://wwwgensferreria.blogspot.comYou are welcome!