Roman Catholicism really came into it's own around the time and leadership of Saint Gregory; 600 AD... until then it was more of a case of the roman power of state trying to absorb this faith that it had persecuted; it didn't have a congruent Roman feel of ownership, it was more like a Roman edict forcing Christians to meet under their roof. Don't forget that many Christian sects resisted joining the state church; and most of these never did join, but were slaughtered instead... except for the Waldensians who survived down through the centuries and indeed seem to still be extant. So, while there is no certain event to nail down catholicism to the 7th century, the religion seemed to come into it's own by then and has continued mostly in that form ever since. I guess I'm saying it solidified.

Catholicism and Islam are both state run civic minded religions; it is a civic duty to participate. That's why they force themselves upon the people of their lands. I noticed that the speaker at the wedding explained that marriage is a religious duty in Islam... that mindset is 7th and 8th century civilization old world mindset. the feudal system was just beginning to create small kingdoms; the same pretty much with the caliphates; common existance was to function as property of your noble; including your religious belief and practice.

I found Jesus on the street, I was raised atheistic, after I received Christ I joined myself to the churches; I have a catholic family background, but an independent upbringing, and I bring that independent perspective with me when I view the many faiths and churches. For instance, I studied textual criticism with the man who baptized me 3 years before I trained for ministry in the Living Stream Ministry (Watchman Nee mainland China and Witness Lee out of Taiwan) which is worldwide but smallish. So, while I submitted myself to the elders of that church, I never submitted to the text they chose for translation at their conferences. I caused a bit of a stir pointing out the inferiority of the Alexandrian text compared to the received text. The elders in Pittsburgh knew I was a maverick before I came there; I think my expulsion was more due to their fears that they could not reel me in under their leadership. The elders in Detroit never had any problem with me, but I joined the ministry in Detroit, was central member in function there, they knew me there, and I grew up in Detroit area, so it wasn't like I was invading their church from another city... there was no defenses in place against me. Instead, they had their own battle between the two elders and when I returned from Florida dissolution of my first marriage, I was forward to bring the one elder back to the church.... just before entering the debacle in Pittsburgh. This kind of tumultuous history was common to my whole 12 years I resided within the various churches in America; now I am like Paul laying low in Tarsus... and American churches have peace. But I don't think God is finished with me yet; I hope not.