The government's policies could not be rigidly executed due the strength of paganism among the population.[1][2][3] No matter what the imperial edicts declared in their fearful threats, the vast numbers of pagans, and the passive resistance of pagan governors and magistrates rendered them largely impotent in their application.[2][4] However, the effects of policy were enough to contribute to a widespread trend towards Christian conversion, though not enough to make paganism extinct.