Early Christian Beliefs About Entertainment and the Theater
Early Christian writings mostly warn believers to stay away from the theater, circus, and public shows. Writers like Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus, Tertullian, Minucius Felix, Lactantius, and the Apostolic Constitutions connect them with lust, idolatry, violence, and shame. A few passages mention theaters as places where events happened, but those are not endorsements. The strongest early answer is that Christians were urged to avoid these entertainments.
109 early-church witnesses · 206 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about entertainment and the Theater?
Early Christians usually warned believers away from the theater, circus, gladiatorial games, and other public shows. Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus, Minucius Felix, Tertullian, Lactantius, and the Apostolic Constitutions all treat these places as tied to lust, idolatry, violence, or moral harm. A few texts mention meetings in theaters or public spectacles in a neutral way, but those are about events, not approval. The direct teaching is broad and repeated:
Christians were told to avoid entertainment that pulled them toward pagan worship or sinful behavior. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christian writers often called theaters and public shows harmful, not harmless.
- Several authors linked these entertainments to lust, idol worship, and violence.
- A few Bible passages mention theaters or public crowds, but the clearest Christian teaching comes from the church writers.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians avoid public shows and theaters?
Multiple early Christian writers say believers should not attend public shows, theaters, circus games, or similar spectacles. They present these as places of moral danger and, in some texts, as incompatible with Christian life.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
If one belonging to the theatre come, whether it be man or woman, or charioteer, or dueller, or racer, or player of prizes, or Olympic gamester, or one that plays on the pipe, on the lute, or on the harp at those games, or a dancing-master or an huckster, either let them leave off their employments, or let them be rejected.
Why did early Christians say the theater was dangerous?
The sources describe the theater and related shows as promoting lust, shameless looking, adultery, debauchery, and corruption of the mind. Several writers also frame the performances themselves as spiritually dangerous or morally contaminating.
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Tertullian, De Spectaculis (On the Shows) Supporting witness
...e went from the origin of the Ludi to the circus games, we will now turn from there to those of the theatre, beginning with the place of exhibition. At first, the theatre was properly a temple of Venus. To speak briefly, this is why stage performances were allowed to escape censure and gain a footing in the world. For the censors often, in the interest of morality, put down above all the rising theatres, because they foresaw the great danger that they would lead to general profligacy. So already, in this agreement of their own people with us, there is a witness against the heathen. And in the judgment that human knowledge made beforehand, there is even a confirmation of our views. Accordingly, Pompey the Great, a man surpassed only by his theatre, when he had built that citadel of all impurities, feared that at some time or other there would be censorian condemnation of his memory. So he placed on it a temple of Venus. Then, by public proclamation, he called the people together for its consecration, and called it not a theatre, but a temple, under which, he said, we have placed tiers of seats for viewing the shows. So he threw a veil over a structure that had often been condemne
Were theaters and games linked to idolatry?
Several writers say the shows, games, and circus were connected to pagan gods, festivals, or profane rites. In these texts, participating in the entertainments could mean sharing in idolatrous worship.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...r the things of the devil will be considered one of them, and will inherit woe. Also avoid indecent spectacles. I mean the theaters and the pomps of the heathens, their enchantments, observations of omens, soothsayings, purgations, divinations, observations of birds, their necromancies, and their invocations. For it is written, "There is no divination in Jacob, nor soothsaying in Israel," Numbers 23:23. And again, "Divination is iniquity." And elsewhere, "You shall not be soothsayers, and follow observers of omens, nor diviners, nor dealers with familiar spirits. You shall not preserve alive wizards," Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10. Therefore Jeremiah exhorts, saying, "Walk not according to the ways of the heathen, and be not afraid of the signs of heaven." So it is the duty of a believer to avoid the assemblies of the ungodly, of the heathen, and of the Jews, and of the rest of the heretics, lest by joining ourselves to them we bring snares on our own souls, so that by joining in their feasts, which are celebrated in honor of demons, we may not be partakers with them in their impiety. You are also to avoid their public meetings, and those sports which are celebrated in them
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Tertullian, De Spectaculis (On the Shows) Direct teaching
To continue my discussion about places: the circus is mainly dedicated to the Sun. His temple stands in the middle of it, and his image shines from the top of the temple. For they did not think it proper to give sacred honor under a roof to one whom they have in the open air. Those who claim that the first spectacle was presented by Circe, and in honor of the Sun, her father, as they suppose, also say that the name circus came from her. Clearly, then, that enchantress did this in the name of those whose priestess she was. I mean demons and evil spirits. So you see what a mass of idolatries appears in the decoration of that place. Every ornament of the circus is like a temple by itself. The eggs are thought to be sacred to the Castors by men who are not ashamed to profess belief that they came from the egg of a swan, which was really Jupiter himself. The dolphins pour forth in honor of Neptune. Images of Sessia, so called as the goddess of sowing; of Messia, so called as the goddess of reaping; and of Tutulina, so called as the deity who protects fruit, weigh down the pillars. In front of these are three altars to these three gods: Great, Mighty, Victorious. They count these as gods
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Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness
It remains to speak about public shows. Since they have a stronger power to corrupt the mind, the wise should avoid them and guard against them completely. People say they were established to honor the gods. The performance of shows is a festival of Saturnus. The stage belongs to Father Liber. The Circensian games are thought to be dedicated to Neptunus. So now, anyone who takes part in these shows seems to have left the worship of God and crossed over to profane rites. But I prefer to speak about the thing itself rather than its origin. What is so terrible, what is so filthy, as the killing of a human being? That is why our life is protected by the strictest laws. That is why wars are hateful. Yet custom has found a way for a man to commit murder without war and without laws. And this becomes a pleasure to him, because he thinks he has punished guilt. But if being present at a killing means sharing in the guilt, and the spectator is involved in the same guilt as the one who did it, then in these slaughters of gladiators, the spectator is no less stained with blood than the one who sheds it. Nor can the person be free from the guilt of bloodshed if he wanted the blood to be poured
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
...f new temples. At first, the hunts, which are called shows, were held in honor of Saturnus, and the stage games in honor of Liber, but the Circus games in honor of Neptune. Little by little, however, the same honor began to be given to the other gods also, and separate games were dedicated to their names, as Sisinnius Capito teaches in his book on the games. Therefore, if anyone is present at the shows where people gather for the sake of religion, he has left the worship of God and has gone over to those deities whose birthdays and festivals he has celebrated.
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Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness
The stage belongs to Father Liber; but the Circensian games are supposed to be dedicated to Neptunus: so that now he who takes part in these shows appears to have left the worship of God, and to have passed over to profane rites.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
For the celebrations of the games are festivals in honour of the gods, inasmuch as they were instituted on account of their birthdays, or the dedication of new temples.
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Tertullian, De Spectaculis (On the Shows) Supporting witness
and summoning by public proclamation the people to its consecration, he called it not a theatre, but a temple, under which, said he, we have placed tiers of seats for viewing the shows.
Did early Christians object to violence in the arena and games?
Some sources criticize the circus, amphitheater, and gladiatorial games for bloodshed, cruelty, and the training of spectators to enjoy murder. These texts treat violent entertainment as a major moral problem.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Direct teaching
The Instructor, then, will not lead us to public shows. It would not be wrong to call the racecourse and the theater the seat of plagues. For there was evil plotting against the Just One, Acts 3:14, and therefore the assembly gathered against Him is cursed. These gatherings are full of confusion and wrongdoing. These excuses for coming together cause disorder, as men and women mix together for the sake of looking at one another. In this way, the gathering has already shown itself to be bad. For when the eye is lustful, desires grow hot. Eyes that get used to looking boldly and shamelessly at their neighbors during leisure stir up sexual desires. Therefore, spectacles and plays that are full of vulgarity and endless gossip must be forbidden. For what shameful act is not shown in the theaters? And what shameless word is not brought out by the clowns? Those who take pleasure in the evil found in these things impress clear images of it on themselves at home. On the other hand, those who are resistant to these things and are not affected by them will never stumble when it comes to pleasures of luxury.
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Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Direct teaching
...tor shows, so that we do not become partners in or supporters of murder. Nor may we watch the other spectacles either, so that our eyes and ears are not defiled by taking part in the songs and words sung there. For if anyone wants to speak of cannibalism, in those spectacles the children of Thyestes and Tereus are eaten. And as for adultery, both among men and among the gods, whom they praise in polished language for honor and prizes, this is made the subject of their dramas. But far be it from Christians even to imagine such deeds. Among them, temperance lives, self-control is practiced, monogamy is observed, chastity is protected, wickedness is destroyed, sin is rooted out, righteousness is practiced, law is administered, worship is performed, and God is acknowledged. Truth rules, grace guards, peace protects them, the holy word guides, wisdom teaches, life leads, and God reigns. Therefore, although we have much to say about our way of life and the commands of God, the maker of all creation, we think that for now we have reminded you enough to lead you to examine these things, especially since you can now read our writings for yourself. So, as you have been eager to gain knowl
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Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness
... between some of the bravest pagans and the holy martyrs. He declares that Christians do not attend public shows and processions, because they know with the greatest certainty that these things are no less impious than cruel.
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Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness
...gin in connection with sacred things, and condemn their mischievous enticements. For in the chariot games who does not shudder at the madness of the people brawling among themselves? Or at the teaching of murder in the gladiatorial games? In the scenic games also the madness is not less, but the debauchery is more prolonged. For now a mimic either expounds or shows forth adulteries; now a nerveless player, while he feigns lust, suggests it. The same actor disgraces your gods by attributing to them adulteries, sighs, and hatreds. The same actor provokes your tears with pretended sufferings, with vain gestures and expressions. Thus you demand murder in fact, while you weep at it in fiction.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
...urged us to despise earthly things and to look up to heaven, they still do not despise these public spectacles. Therefore they both delight in them and gladly attend them. Yet since these are the greatest incitement to vices, and have a very powerful tendency to corrupt our minds, they ought to be taken away from us. For they not only do nothing to help a happy life, but even bring the greatest harm. For the man who counts it a pleasure that a man, though justly condemned, should be killed in his sight, pollutes his conscience as much as if he were both a spectator of and a partner in a murder committed in secret. And yet they call these things sports, in which human blood is shed. So far has the feeling of humanity departed from men, that when they destroy the lives of men, they think they are amusing themselves with sport, being more guilty than all those whose shedding of blood they count as a pleasure. I ask, then, whether they can be just and pious men when they see men placed under the stroke of death and begging for mercy, and not only allow them to be put to death, but even demand it, and give cruel and inhuman votes for their death, not satisfied with wounds and not con
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Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness
The circus, in truth, is considered more innocent, but there is greater madness in this, since the minds of the spectators are transported with such great madness, that they not only break out into revilings, but often rise to strifes, and battles, and contentions.
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Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness
What of the stage? Is it more holy — on which comedy converses on the subject of debaucheries and amours, tragedy of incest and parricide?
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
Let spectacles, therefore, and plays that are full of scurrility and of abundant gossip, be forbidden.
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
What else does the practice of the Circensian games contain but levity, vanity, and madness?
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Minucius Felix, Octavius Supporting witness
In the scenic games also the madness is not less, but the debauchery is more prolonged: for now a mimic either expounds or shows forth adulteries;
Common Questions
Did early Christians go to the theater?
Most early Christian writers said believers should not attend public shows and theaters, especially when they were tied to pagan worship or immoral behavior.
Why did early Christians avoid public shows?
They said the shows stirred lust, honored false gods, and exposed people to violence and shame.
Are there Bible verses about theater and entertainment?
The Bible does not give a direct rule about theater, but some passages about public crowds, idolatry, and worldly amusements are often used in this discussion.
Source Index for Entertainment and the Theater
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 206 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 109
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Clement of Rome, Connection to Luke 8:5
Bible Passages 80 shown of 97
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.