Christianity as Change in Religious Identity

A change in religious identity, especially from non-exclusive to exclusive (such as pagan to Christian), constitutes a profound alteration in self-identity. In Late Antiquity, such conversion reflected many currents within the culture. ¹ After the accession of Theodosius there was real legal pressure for conformity to established Christianity. However, there appear to have been other social pressures as well, such as acceptance by peer groups, separation from family units, and the perceived threat of force. ²