Romans+Persecuting+Early+Christians

Morgan and Tiffany A2


**Thesis: **  ==**The Romans persecuted in many brutal ways, their first reason for Christian persecution was because of emperor Nero and is irresponsible behaviors, then secondly emperor Domitian’s dominate personality. Last but not least it was the traditions and behaviors of Christians that Romans could not bare to understand, and unwilling to accept them. **==  **Irresponsible Emperor Nero **  ==**1. One of the many reasons why Romans persecuted early Christians was because of their horrible emperors. During 54-68 BC, while Emperor Nero was ruling Rome** //**(Brian, Website**// **). Rome had suffered a terrible fire, destroying almost three fourth of their city. Romans were frustrated and started accusing Emperor Nero for starting the fire for his own amusement and pleasure, of course Emperor Nero panicked. To deflect these accusations and faults, Emperor Nero quickly blamed it on the Christians** //**(Frend, Article).**// **Nero picked a few members of the Christian denomination and tortured them until they accused others. Soon the whole Christian community was insinuated. The Romans tortured Christians in many brutal ways, for example, they were nailed on the cross, set on fire and put into the bags and drown. Because of Emperor Nero was immoral, many Christians suffered persecution. Soon the persecutions were useless and no longer benefited the people, but ashamed the individuals.** == == == ===**2. Corrupt Leader Domitian** === ==**Domitian was one of the ruler of Rome, he ruled from 81 BC- 96BC, and Domitian was a very disturbed child** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> //**(Galli, Article)**// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**. As a child, Domitian liked catching flies and stabbing them with a pen, watch fights between women (gladiators) and he overall had a very ill mind. When he ruled, he was the first emperor that named himself, "God the Lord" and insisted people hailing to his greatness because of his dominate personality. Of course the Christians and the Jews were unwilling to do so, consequently they were persecuted for disobeying his commands. He, like Emperor Nero had a very cruel mind, and persecuted them as if they were animals. It was entertainment to him and to the cruel audiences to watch them burned on the stake. The Christians were also killed by animals, which are very horrible deaths. But because of their strong faith in their Lord, they decided to stay on His side, which made them martyrs to the Christian religion.** ==

==<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**3. Nonacceptance of Christians** == ==<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**Christians were very unpopular, and were often blame for things they had nothing to do with because they were stubborn. They were also confused with the Jews who had the reputation of being rebellious. Suspense grew and they no longer trusted either of them anymore.They had their own God, and were hated because of their strong Christian faiths. Having their strong beliefs also made them seem stubborn to the public, and in addition they were disloyal because when the emperor told them to bow down they would not (due to their devotion to their God.)** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">//**(Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Reference Entry)**// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**Consequently being persecuted by the emperor for disobeying orders** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">//**(Carlson, Encyclopedia**// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**). The general public also despised and feared the Christians because they viewed the Christians as superstitious and often misunderstood the Christian nature. They thought Christians were cannibalism for their language of bread and wine and Christ flesh** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> //**(Frend, Article)**// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">**. Overall, the Christians were not respected and soon did not benefit to the public, and were never again taken seriously, but were laughed at and suffered.** ==

<span style="display: block; line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">Works Cited
Adams, John Paul. //Christian Beginnings//. N.p., 24 Jan. 2010. Web. 3 Oct. 2010. <http://www.csun.edu/‌~hcfll004/‌xtians.html>. Brian, Paul. //Nero’s persecution of the Christians//. N.p., 18 Dec. 1998. Web. 3 Oct. 2010. <http://www.wsu.edu:8080/‌~wldciv/‌world_civ_reader/‌world_civ_reader_1/‌tacitus.html>. Carlson, Mark. //Religious Persecution//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2010. <http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/‌~marc-carlson/‌witch/‌persecute.html>. Frend, William HC. “PERSECUTION IN THE EARLY CHURCH.” //PERSECUTION -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600//. //Academic Search Complete//. Web. 3 Oct. 2010. <http://web.ebscohost.com/‌ehost/‌detail?vid=1&hid=17&sid=0e9f8da0-a8ef-4583-8895-626626a940bb%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=9604244232>. Galli, Mark. “The Persecuting Emperors.” //Emperor// 1130: n. pag. //MAS Ultra - School Edition//. Web. 3 Oct. 2010. <http://web.ebscohost.com/‌ehost/‌detail?vid=1&hid=112&sid=cbbee284-9cc6-40a3-a5a7-8bbb8e67b760%40sessionmgr110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ulh&AN=9604244241>. //National Geographic//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2010. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/‌lostgospel/‌timeline_09.html>. “Church and State” Academic Search Complete.. Web. 3 Oct. 2010. < <span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">**http://tas.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_9417_1%26url%3D** >.

Thirion, Euegene. //Roman Emperors Persecute Christians//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Oct. 2010. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/‌lostgospel/‌timeline_09.html>.