McKennaMisko

Mr.Evans
April12,2016
ReligionII
ChristianPersecutionThroughoutHistory

InthispaperIseektoassessChristianPersecutionduringtheearlyChurch,the
FrenchRevolution,andthepresent.SomemaythinkthatChristianpersecutiondoesnot
existanymore.Inmyopinion,wearehearingmoreaboutittodaythanwewouldback
then,butmoreChristianswerepersecutedduringtheearlyChurch.MoreChristians
werepersecutedduringtheearlyChurchbecausethefaithwasnewtosociety,andsome
werenotopentoacceptingthenewideasandtraditionsthattheChristianfaithbrought
withit.InthefollowingparagraphsIwillbegintoexplaintoyoutheChristian
PersecutionthatoccurredduringtheearlyChurch,theFrenchRevolution,andthe
present.
Asaknownfact,ClaudiuswasthefirstemperortopersecuteChristians.
Christianitytoday.comsays,SuchargumentsbetweenJewsandChristianswerenot
unknown(e.g.,inEphesus;Acts19).Claudiuslikelyandinadvertentlywasthefirst
emperor,then,topersecuteChristians(whowereperceivedasaJewishsect)for,it
seems,disturbingthepeace.Therefore,ClaudiuswasnotracisttowardstheChristians;
hemadehisdecisionbasedoffofhowtheirreligionaffectedthepeaceoftheregion.
AnotheremperorthatruledduringthetimeofearlyChurchwasNero.Nerowas

notoriouslyknownasaterribleruler.Hewasharsh,andcruel.Christianitytoday.com
says,NerotriedtopintheblameforthatfireonthecityssmallChristiancommunity
(regardedasadistinct,dissidentgroupofJews),andso,appropriately,heburnedmany
ofthemalive.PeterandPaulweresaidtohavebeenmartyredasaresult.
TheChurchduringtheFrenchRevolutionwasstronglydominantandpresent
duringthistimeperiod.Historytoday.comsays,[Thechurchesrevenue]ownedaround
sixpercentoflandthroughoutFrance,anditsabbeys,churches,monasteriesand
convents,aswellastheschools,hospitalsandotherinstitutionsAlikeother
countries,Francehadamainreligionwhiletherewereothersmallergroupsofpeople
practicingotherreligions.People.opposingviews.comsays,Theofficialreligionof
France,nearlytheentirepopulationwasCatholic,andthosethatweren'tmainly
ProtestantsandJews.However,duringtheFrenchRevolution,thePopedisagreedwith
theCivilConstitutionoftheClergy.Asaresult,people.opposingviews.comsays,The
majorityofChurchofficialsfledthecountry,andthosewhostayedrantheriskofbeing
arrestedorattackedinthestreetitbecameclearthegovernmentintendedtoremove
theCatholicChurchfromFrancealtogether,withtheeliminationoftheChristian
calendarandestablishmentof"cults"totaketheplaceofChristianity.Inmanyhomes,
however,Catholicpracticewascarriedoninsecretandperformedbythelaity.Finally,
NapoleontookcontrolofFrancein1799andreestablishedtheCatholicChurch
throughoutFranceasawaytobringtheParisiansbacktogether.
Currently,therearestillmanyChristiansbeingpersecuted.Opendoorsusa.org
says,[Eachmonth],322Christiansarekilledfortheirfaith.214Churchesand

Christianpropertiesaredestroyed,[and]772formsofviolencearecommittedagainst
Christians(suchasbeatings,abductions,rapes,arrests,andforcedmarriages).Today,
mostChristiansarebeingpersecutedincountriessuchasNorthKorea,Iraq,andEritrea.
Thecommonstringbetweenallthreetimeperiodsisthatthereisstilldiscrimination
occurring.Itstartedwiththeveryfirstemperors,specificallyNero,anddiscrimination
hasnotstopped.Ihopethatonedaydiscriminationwillend,butthatishardinaworld
withoutpeacebetweencountriesandotherreligions.
Inconclusion,notonlyChristiansarepersecuted,butotherreligionsfacethe
samestrugglesaswell.ThesestruggleshaveexistedsincetheearlyChurch,andthey
havenotchanged.ManypeoplestilldiscriminateagainsttheCatholic/Christianfaith,
butwecannotstopthat.IbelievethatChristianpersecutionwillendwhenwereacha
daywherethereispeacethroughouttheworld.