(December 10, 2018 at 12:51 pm)Drich Wrote:(December 9, 2018 at 10:19 am)Jehanne Wrote: Getting back to the OP, no mainstream scholar believes that the early disciples of Jesus were martyred due to their faith; persecution of Christians within the Empire was episodic and not widespread. The Romans, in fact, had a fair amount of tolerance for religious beliefs but did demand allegiance to the Empire.
that's untrue. I have posted a historicaly accepted letter from pliny the younger to emperor Tragen of rome asking what to do with the 1st century christians he was capturing. he was at a loss as to the total volume of people he was finding and did not know what to do with them as some did not deny christ (to whom he executed) and many other who did when confronted to which he let go.. He asked the emperor for direction. the emperor says: if they deny the faith or they are not currently practicing and swear to the roman gods let them go. and again only kill active members who will not recant the faith!
The point of the OP is that people die for crazy beliefs all the time and neither religious fanaticism nor persecution prove anything.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
