I think a large part of the issue is that the Church&#x27;s original pacifism is not a viable strategy for a state religion. Pacifism worked for Gandi, but against Visigoths or Mongols? Not a chance. So the Church had to shift doctrines (again showing that you can find what you&#x27;re looking for in the Scriptures if you look hard enough) to &quot;win the race&quot;, so to say.