Would They Die for a Lie?

[Angrboda]

Drich, if you don't mind, I'd like to actually see the documents you are referencing, not just a list of names.  A list of names tells us nothing.

those names where links to the wiki pages on ths guys on their pages are links to their works

but I found a compiled list here from the burning of rome wiki page this can be found at the bottom under references.:
Notes and references[edit]

1. ^ "Great Fire of Rome". National Geographic Society. 18 June 2014.
   
2. ^ Dando-Collins, Stephen (September 2010). The Great Fire of Rome. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-81890-5.
   
3. ^ Cassius Dio,
   
4. ^ Suetonius. "Life of Nero". Lives of Twelve Caesars.
   
5. ^ Tacitus, Annal XV.38–44
   
6. ^ Jump up to:a  Tacitus, Annals XV.38–9
   
7. ^ Tacitus, Annals XV.44
   

Bibliography[edit]

• Cassius Dio, Roman History, Books 62 ( 229)
  
  
• Suetonius, The Lives of Twelve Caesars, the Life of Nero, 38 ( 121)
  
  
• Tacitus, Annals, XV ( 117)
  

Well, thank you for the additional information, Drich. Unfortunately the only thing which leads to something specific is the National Geographic link, which provides little useful information. I think you have misunderstood me. I am looking for links to actual documents from the authors you cite, and preferably relevant quotes from those documents, specifically regarding persecution of Christians in the first century, including Nero, if relevant. I'll have to reread the Pliny letter, but you and Jehanne appear to be talking past one another. As far as I can see, the Pliny letter documents a limited pogrom against Christians, and doesn't document how widespread the actual oppression was or how many were killed or whatever as a result. I understand that you think that the exception proves the rule here, in that this specific advice implies a greater widespread norm of persecution of Christians, but I'm not sure that holds, specifically in the absence of documentation of such. It is the question of whether there was widespread persecution of Christians throughout the first century, and on into the following centuries, or whether there weren't pockets of persecution such as the Pliny letter alludes to. Both claims can be correct. Pliny can document specific persecutions, but not secure the conclusion of widespread persecution. Again, I'll have to reread the letter, but if you could provide additional quotes and documents citing persecution of Christians in the early centuries, that would go a long way toward establishing your claim. It's worthy of note that the only alleged example of persecution in the bible is that of Saint Stephen, and that wasn't for refusal to deny his beliefs. At the very least, given that bible documents cover a substantial portion of the first century, it's odd that more examples of persecution aren't present. (Jesus, himself, is arguably another example, but I'm not sure that helps consolidate the case.)

(Note: The Cassius Dio and Seutonius references are dead links, and the Tacitus link is just a general link to his Roman Histories.)