The Myth of The Persecution of Early Christians!
Now and then Christian apologists resurrect the story of Roman Persecution of Christians, with them being thrown to the lion in the arena for the sport of their citizens. It is a myth, and lies to seek sympathy, and boost Christian so-called appalling treatment at the hands of Pagans. Yes, Christians did get thrown to the lions in the arena, but not through the brutality of the Roman authority. Believe it or not, the Romans, when it came to religious matters, were sympathetic, and tolerant to most non-Roman religions or cults. The Romans loved their gods, they probably had one for every day of the year. As they were forever adopting gods from their conquest of foreign lands, especially Grecian gods. Rome’s military might kept client countries and their citizens safe, and all they asked was for those people getting this safeguard, and security from hostility’s, was to pay homage to the emperor once a year. Christians throughout time have been known to be intolerant of other faith, and creeds, and would never participate in Roman festivals, or celebrating the gods of Rome.
Christians will say that this post is nonsense, untrue, and that the Romans killed Christians indiscriminately over their faith alone, and that my source is wanting. Believe me or not, my source for the early Christians suicide by Romans, for suicide is what it was, comes from a Christian academic text.
Christians, such as Polycarp, committed suicide (c. 156) instead of living a fruitful life because of their religious indoctrination.
We are shown by the narrative, for example, that the only crime Polycarp had committed was siding with the Christians in refusing to worship the state gods. In order to be delivered from the sentence of death, all he (Polycarp)was required to do was “swear by the fortune of Caesar” (i.e., do homage to the emperor’s divine spirit) and to curse “the atheists,” that is, the Christians, who did not acknowledge the gods and were therefore, in the eyes of these pagans, “a-theists” (literally, “not-theists,” those who do not accept the gods).
Polycarp refused to disavow Christ or his followers, and so forced the governor to do his duty to the people by having him executed.
[The New Testament (1997 edition): A historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, p. 379, Oxford University Press, Oxford—New York.]—A text book for students and scholars.
A reference to Christian so-called persecution, in the historical introduction to early Christian writings, states: Most of the surviving writings from antiquity take a positive view of Christian Martyrdom, urging Christians to go willingly to their deaths for the faith and to endue all the torture that humans can devise. By doing so, Christians would imitate the Passion of their Lord, Jesus. [Ibid
page 378]
Yet, today Christians celebrate Pagan festivals such as Easter, Valentine’s Day, Samhain/Halloween, *Christmas, New Year’s Day, and May day are just a few festivals that no doubt the ancient Christian would have refused to acknowledge.
(*Christmas has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invictus (Birthday of the Unconquered Sun on 25th December), as well as the Winter Solstice, Yule, and the Roman festival of Saturnalia.)
What do you say on the myth of Christian martyrdom, instead being urged to commit suicide over life?
Jeanne, J.E., pp. Jero Jones.
Jero Jones
Article URL : https://breakingnewsandreligion.online/discuss/
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