The Myth of Persecution

[GuyWhiteyCorngood]

Saw this article in Salon about a new book contending there is little evidence that Christians were ever systematically persecuted. Seems like an interesting read.

From the article:

In the immediate aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre, a modern myth was born. A story went around that one of the two killers asked one of the victims, Cassie Bernall, if she believed in God. Bernall reportedly said “Yes” just before he shot her. Bernall’s mother wrote a memoir, titled “She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall,” a tribute to her daughter’s courageous Christian faith. Then, just as the book was being published, a student who was hiding near Bernall told journalist Dave Cullen that the exchange never happened.

Although Candida Moss’ new book, “The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom,” is about the three centuries following the death of Jesus, she makes a point of citing this modern-day parallel. What Bernall truly said and did in the moments before her death absolutely matters, Moss asserts, if we are going to hold her up as a “martyr.” Yet misconceptions and misrepresentations can creep in so soon. The public can get the story wrong even in this highly mediated and thoroughly reported age — and do so despite the presence among us of living eyewitnesses. So what, then, to make of the third-hand, heavily revised, agenda-laden and anachronistic accounts of Christianity’s original martyrs?

The article goes on to describe how the author ties in the modern day "War on Christianity" nonsense with the ingrained notion of victimhood in Christianity. If that's the only thing she links, then I think she stopped short. Maybe one of the biggest problems with our entire culture on the right and left is that we've become whiny pussies due to the imprint of this misperception in our Christian roots.

[reformedgator]

I'm sure all of the Christians-past & present- that have been killed because of their allegiance will be greatly relieved to know it wasn't nearly as bad as they thought.

[rivergator]

I'm not much worried one way or another about alleged persecution 2000 years ago. But I do think today's claims of Christian, conservative victimhood are pretty continually ridiculous.

[GatorAbe7]

So she finds stats that do give evidence to Christian persecution and her argument holds because the statistics didn't have the magnitude of numbers as originally thought. In other words her claim is centered on downplaying, not actual refute.

To be fair, I'll say this: Much more violence to Christians has been done by other Christians within the overall umbrella of Christianity than by hostile outsiders. If she's just looking at persecution enacted by outsiders than it's not surprising the numbers aren't as high as the reputation holds.

[g8trdoc]

This article alone is proof of persecution. I feel a great sense of honor when I'm persecuted for being a Christian. This is not to say I look forward to it but all the same it makes my faith grow even more.

[Dreamliner]

Addendum to book: the crucifixion didn't hurt much either.

[reformedgator]

Originally Posted by rivergator

I'm not much worried one way or another about alleged persecution 2000 years ago. But I do think today's claims of Christian, conservative victimhood are pretty continually ridiculous.

But then again you seem to find most all claims of orthodox Christianity to be pretty ridiculous. The reason for that was written 2000 years ago.

[Dreamliner]

Which forumer was it who informed us that he ridiculed his family's Christian beliefs ?

[CalSFGator]

It's not terribly surprising that a religion based on the most uneventful and shallowest martyrdom of all time would have a bit of an exaggerated sense of victimhood.

[92gator]

Well the catacombs is a pretty nice touch by those early Christians, who were surely primarily concerned with what folks centuries later would think about them, which must be why they felt compelled to conceal them from their contemporaries--in order to preserve them for ours...

...clearly, actual fear of persecution had no bearing on these clairvoyant visionaries with such a clear view of what future centuries would hold...

[92gator]

Originally Posted by CalSFGator

It's not terribly surprising that a religion based on the most uneventful and shallowest martyrdom of all time would have a bit of an exaggerated sense of victimhood.

Nor is it surprising how so many gullible believers of anything but God, will latch on to any piece of crap floating by, without regard to its merits, as long as it is consistent with their firm belief, and need to believe, in the non-existence of God.

[GuyWhiteyCorngood]

It would be an interesting poll to see how people rank their perception of "the biggest victims"

Muslims
Jews
Christians
Atheists
Hindus
Buddhists

I think the Hindus and Buddhists at least deserve credit for suffering quietly.

[92gator]

^^^add atheists and aggies to your list--they whine as loudly as anyone.

[GuyWhiteyCorngood]

Originally Posted by 92gator

^^^add atheists and aggies to your list--they whine as loudly as anyone.

RIF

[CalSFGator]

Originally Posted by 92gator

Nor is it surprising how so many gullible believers of anything but God, will latch on to any piece of crap floating by, without regard to its merits, as long as it is consistent with their firm belief, and need to believe, in the non-existence of God.

Well, that was a fun sentence saying less than nothing (which is one of your great talents). What exactly are you trying to say? Something about something floating by? It's all so terribly incoherent.

[92gator]

Originally Posted by CalSFGator

Well, that was a fun sentence saying less than nothing (which is one of your great talents). What exactly are you trying to say? Something about something floating by? It's all so terribly incoherent.

Hace falta que te lo tradusco a espanol?

[CHFG8R]

Originally Posted by GatorAbe7

So she finds stats that do give evidence to Christian persecution and her argument holds because the statistics didn't have the magnitude of numbers as originally thought. In other words her claim is centered on downplaying, not actual refute.

To be fair, I'll say this: Much more violence to Christians has been done by other Christians within the overall umbrella of Christianity than by hostile outsiders. If she's just looking at persecution enacted by outsiders than it's not surprising the numbers aren't as high as the reputation holds.

This. Nailed it!

[92gator]

Originally Posted by GuyWhiteyCorngood

RIF

nm. Didn't see you had included atheists. my bad.

[CHFG8R]

Originally Posted by 92gator

Nor is it surprising how so many gullible believers of anything but God, will latch on to any piece of crap floating by, without regard to its merits, as long as it is consistent with their firm belief, and need to believe, in the non-existence of God.

What of those who choose NOT to latch on to the unknowable?

[CHFG8R]

Originally Posted by CalSFGator

It's not terribly surprising that a religion based on the most uneventful and shallowest martyrdom of all time would have a bit of an exaggerated sense of victimhood.

Well, at least it's not as self-serving as Islam. Go in cave, have God order you to ammass political and financial wealth, amass armies and conquer in his name.

"Got it!. Check! Works for me."
- Muhammed.