As Roman Empire deteriorated and life became intolerable, philosophies in place (Stoicism, Skepticism) were no longer satisfactory.
- People yearned for stability.
- "Mystery" religions from the East grew in popularity.
- Christian message was comforting & persecution provided daring, inspiring models.
The Christian message was simple and was quickly combined with local traditions.
There was no coherent Christian psychology until after the time of Augustine in the 5th century.