Lecture 39: Christian Persecution

Picture of Martyrdom of St. Sebastian I hate to be the one who bears you this sad news but the class is almost over. Yes, it's true!! And even worse -- your final is coming. Arghhhh

Now if you've been attending class and trying, you're in good shape. The fact that you made it past 3 tests is some hint that you're hanging in there. (Hanging may be the right word.) It's been fun, but let me give you your possible essay questions: (you're going to love them.)

  1. Geography -- any of it from Sumeria to Rome -- how the land and development of it affected the rise and/or fall of the country.
  2. Religion from Sumeria to Rome. Unfortunately, Stockmyer doesn't have time to grade that big a question so it will probably be split up a little more. (Greek vs Rome or Sumeria to Greek, etc.) But you won't know which piece so you'd better know it all.
  3. Government --- types -- why and how it works and fails -- how it changes from one form to another.
The final is a little different. There will be short answer and "objectionable" (a.k.a. objective) questions on the material that's new. There will be 5-pointers on the old words. You also have to be able to sketch a free-hand map of the Mediterranean Sea and put things in their place. (You might want to practice this. It's harder than it sounds. Art is not necessary -- just so you show things in the proper east/west/north/south combinations.) And the essay is worth 100 points!!! GOOD LUCK!

Back to the lecture.

Christians were persecuted cuz they were an illegal religion. A little persecution was good for the growth of Christianity. It kept out the dead wood -- people who weren't true believers but joined to sell insurance policies, etc. It also made being a Christian exciting. Christians weren't persecuted hard enough to clobber, just enough to keep them in the news. Except when the Roman Empire was in trouble. Then they persecuted the weirdos to get the people behind the empire. If they needed a scapegoat to blame, the Christians were usually it. The USA does the same things as far as groups like Jehovah's Witnesses and Quakers and other pacifist types. The J.W. won't salute the flag cuz they don't give their allegiance to anything but God. The Quakers won't fight in any wars. We don't care unless the country is in a war. Somehow, sending your kids off to die while they're still farming makes people not like them much.

Why were Christians persecuted? (Glad you asked.) 1. They were charged with atheism. (Huh?) Atheism means you don‘t believe in god.) Actually, the charge is true. They didn't believe in the state religion. They weren't patriotic or religious cuz they didn't worship the genius of the emperor. They worshiped some dead criminal. They didn't believe in the right god! 2. Some of the Christians wouldn't join the army or pay taxes. They obviously hadn't read the New Testament cuz Jesus tells them to support the government they're under. 3. They held secret meetings and there were bad rumors about them eating the dead. Course they were illegal so they had to meet secretly.

Christians really didn't mind the persecution. They thought the people that were killed for their religion were martyrs and would go straight to heaven (do not pass go, etc.) Some really immoral people figured they wouldn't get to heaven any other way. They'd kind of taunt Romans and say kill me. There were some stories of whole congregations that wanted to die with the bishops (head priests types) so they could all go to heaven together. They'd be pounding on the governor's wall demanding that they be killed, too. Romans thought they were crazy. If they wanted to die, why not go hang themselves. That wasn't the same thing. That was suicide and for that you go straight to hell. You have to get the Romans to kill you so you're a martyr and go straight to heaven.