mg01

Of the sources that discuss this, what reason is given for why this was so widespread? Was is the Jewish connection hard feelings from the rebellions in 70 and 132, that they were "pagans", or what? When you consider how Roman expansion resulted in such a mix of cultures and traditions, was Christianity "picked on" any more so than any other strange new cult that found it's way to Rome?

aa5874

I hope you understand that the word "Christians" did not inherently mean "followers of Jesus of Nazareth". There were many concepts of the "Christ" that had nothing at all to do with "Jesus" of Nazareth.

Crowley

Can you post summaries of the other concepts of the "Christ"? Any links would be appreciated.

aa5874

See Against Heresies by Irenaeus, and Justin Martyr's First Apology.

Roger Pearse

Neither work identifies such, tho.

mg01

So anyway...

The web sources I find simply say "because they refused to worship the gods". Is this really all there was to it?

andrewcriddle

Reasons for persecution changed with time.

Nero apparently persecuted Christians as scapegoats for the Fire of Rome.

In the 2nd century the position seems to be that Christians were a weird new cult about whom sinister rumours were circulated. They refused to demonstrate that they were really patriotic citizens by doing reverence to the Gods and the Emperor and hence they were liable to the death penalty. (In practice most of the time a don't ask don't tell policy seems to have been in operation but hundreds of Christians were put to death between 100 and 200 CE)

In the 3rd century and the Great Persecution in the early 4th century persecution mostly involved a deliberate effort by the Emperor to restore traditional values by encouraging the worship of the Gods. Christians refused to cooperate and some thousands died as a result.

Andrew Criddle

mountainman

There is one singular source called Eusebius. Eusebius' account is christian polemic as a total package, thus he deals in all things "christian". The account of Eusbeius is all anyone "really knows" about the Roman christian persecutions. Consider the following quote by the Church Man Lightfoot:



The Romans hammered the Jewish "Galilaean rebels".
Christianity had nothing to do with the Roman conquest of Judae.



Christianity IMO originated with the publication of fourth century fiction, and as part and parcel of this fiction were the Eusebian stories of "The Persecution of the christian Martrys by the romans." It was total bullshit.

Historical citations to persecutions have a non-christian group as the target for the Roman persecutions which "actually happened". These were the Manichaeans, the followers of Mani and his apostles. Persecutions commenced in Iran c.272 CE with the execution of Mani (with a change in political power). Edicts of Diocletian against the Manichaeans are extant for a number of places including Rome. In the 290's this group was targetted to have their writings burned along with themselves.

The persecution of the Manichaeans extended for centuries aftet this. Christian Bishops are often cited burning bundles of Manichaeans writings and codices before the doors of christian basilicas well into the fifth century. In all reality, the christians (with an invented and fraudulent history) were the persecutors of the non-christian cults, with effect from Constantine's bringing them "out into the light of day" c.325 CE, for many centuries.
Have a good long read through Vlasis Rassias


You will find that the (archaeological and scientific) evidence for christian persecutions has very very little substance. It would be interesting to actually haul these out in this thread and give them the proper hiding that they deserve. They are fraudulent claims without substantial evidence.


Best wishes,


Pete Brown

schilling.klaus

Those persecutions are all Eusebian lies

Klaus Schilling

Minimalist

Only in Tacitus which seems to be a much later interpolation. There is an impressive list of early christian writers (not to mention Roman writers) who make no such connection.

Suetonius dismisses Christians as a "mischievous" sect. I wouldn't call crazed arsonists "mischievous" and Suetonius lived at the same time as Tacitus and Pliny and knew both of them.