The Myth of Persecution

This interview with Candida Moss, author of The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom, is absolutely fascinating, not just because of its insight into early Christian history, but because she brings it into the present day, too.

Note how Bill O'Reilly's 'war on Christmas' is basically the same thing. Christians claim that they're under attack because that makes them gather together in defense, but also because it justifies any kind of attack they want to make. After all, they're just defending themselves, right?

As Moss explains, this persecution mentality is useful. But I suspect, too, that it's fun - at least, it's fun for believers to think this way when it isn't actually true. You may have a humdrum life in reality, but in your imagination, you're actually a warrior for Jesus, fighting Satan, under constant attack by evil forces. What fun, huh?