Then and now religions shared common dimensions that provide society with a doctrine, a narrative, an ethic, a ritual, an experience and a social institution. These six dimensions derived from Ninian Smart outline the framework for the comparative study of religions1. The six dimensions are valid when comparing the daily routine of Roman religious thought with modern Christianity. At the core of both cultures is woven a strong unifying spirit that has built a strong community bond for its people. For the Romans, their religion was the state religion. It is defined as the state religion because for the Romans their "state religion" had "assured and could continue to guarantee the preservation and prosperity of their state".2 Due to the centuries-old military domination and military expansion of Rome, the State religion was almost self-perpetuating in Roman culture. As a function of the state, religion was protected and inserted into the core of Roman daily life. As such, the vast majority of state officials were part of the priesthood of the state religion. Modern Christianity, however, is different in this regard. While the United States of America bases most of its legal principles on Judeo-Christian law, the United States Constitution guarantees that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…” 3 therefore they do not exist” functional state religions. , Christianity is still the dominant religion in the United States. Christianity's reach into American society is based solely on its gospel and the teachings of the Bible. Rome's state religion was polytheistic. The average Roman believed in multiple gods such as the “Deities of the Environment”. The best known of all this multitude of god known as the Olympus...... center of the card ......tures derived from their religions is astonishing. Community bonding unites Christian and Roman communities during festivals, masses and other community activities. Although both Christians and Romans shared a very similar fundamental framework for their cultures, their religious practices are clearly distinct. It is these practices arising from the worship of multiple deities and the separation of church and state that we see the contrasts of these two cultures put them on a collision course. While we know which religion ultimately usurps the other, it is still interesting to analyze the differences between these cultures. Works Cited1 Ninian Smart, The Religious Experience of Mankind (New York, 1969)2 Jo-Ann Shelton, As the Romans Did, page 3593 United States Constitution, First Amendment (Philidelphia, 1787)4 Jo-Ann Shelton, As the Romans Did Romans, page 3615 Jo-Ann Shelton, How the Romans Did it, page 391