Christianity
Persecution has been a component of the Christian experience since the time of Christ. The Roman government periodically led formal persecution campaigns that were significant for the development of Christian identity and consciousness. Ten of these Roman persecution campaigns were historically significant, beginning with one led by Nero and causing the martyrdoms of Peter and Paul ("Persecutions in the Early Church," 2013). Martyrdom thus became a core motif for Christians, leading to the tradition of Christian sainthood: "The high regard for the martyrs as the heroes of the church and the privileges assigned to them led to the cult of the saints," ("Persecution in Early Church: Did You Know?" 1990). Although they could be severe, early persecutions of Christians were sporadic and localized, rather than being "a constant experience," ("Persecution in Early Church: Did You Know?" 1990). Once Constantine the Great adopted Christianity as the official religion of Rome, the persecution of Christians became less common in Europe.
Although persecution cannot be considered a necessary component of being Christian, it is certainly normal in the sense that it has been occurring since the time of Christ. Suffering persecution has been a global, even if sporadic, experience. Recent persecutions of Christians throughout the Middle East such as in Iraq and Egypt continue to plague the community (Martin, 2010). Therefore, Christians are continually reminded of the unfortunate pervasiveness of religious persecution.
The Bible refers to persecution as an expected experience. John frames persecution as a response to disbelief or lack...
Like the Pope, such statements are seen by Christianity as a falsehood (Shelly, 1982). Baptism is another point of contention between Christianity and Roman Catholicism. Christianity teaches those who listen to the gospel and believe in the Holy Spirit are a part of God, and that their eventual salvation is due to their joining with God (Ephesians 1:13; John 1:13). Thus, according to Christianity, man is an extension of God,
persecution of early Christians under the Roman Empire is a matter of great interest and intrigue to many, even today; as is the matter of distinction and distrust between early Jews and Christians. Furthermore, the ironically similar behavior of orthodox Christians towards heretics rouses the curiosity of many scholars. This paper will discuss the effect of Christianity on Romans and their perceptions towards Christians, Christian perceptions and treatment of
Actions and morality are considered of secondary importance to the initial act of faith that functions as the basis for these (Miller, 2009). Christian morality functions on the basis of faith. Like Hindus, Christians honor their connection to the divine by means of actions, but they do not see actions as a pathway to bliss; this is the role of faith. In other words, Christians live morally laudable lives because
Theology: James, Hebrews and Peter James, Hebrews and Peter: Theology The issue of persecution is quite prevalent in the books of Hebrews, James and 1 & 2 Peter. The writers center their teachings on the idea that Christians should be ready to endure persecution, just as Christ their savior did. This text examines how the issue of persecution is handled by the three writers, and what Peter says about false teachers and
Confucianism promotes the "ideal of the scholar, who cultivates virtue in oneself and shares it through service in government, teaching, and daily life," Canda explains on page 1. The pure idea of Confucianism is to benefit all the citizens and those benefits have a ripple effect starting with the individual, through the family, and out to the Korean society and then the world (Canda, p. 1). Confucianism has had an
At this point in the declaration, the sentiments of the church become very expressive -- "The Church... cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God... concluded the Ancient Covenant;" thus, "most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people." This declaration then concludes by focusing on the status of the Jewish people in
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