persecution

Question 1

describe the charge of atheism against christians

Answer 1

christians denied to worship the roman gods and emperor. this was the most important reason for their persecution

romans believed that by offending the gods it led to public calamity so if disaster fell economically, socially or politically pagans believed it was it was the fault of those who didn’t worship the gods and the state

Question 2

who where christians first persecuted against

Answer 2

the jews which meant there was no state hostility

Question 3

describe the charge of cannibalism against christians

Answer 3

the charge arose due to deranged versions of what happened at the last supper due to christians partaking of the flesh and blood of christ led them to believe they are cannibals.

Question 4

how where christians thought to be a threat to the state?

Answer 4

romans feared a revolt against the government. so the government disrupted any unions or secret societies incase they plotted to overthrow.

Question 5

how did christians manage to get around the ban on meetings

Answer 5

set up as a burial club in order to meet up without being persecuted

Question 6

why did nero begin persecuting christians

Answer 6

a great fire broke out in Rome with great loss of life and property, suspicion fell on Nero who wanted to get rid of an area in order to extend his palace. therefor he used the christians as a scapegoat

Question 7

how did Tacitus describe the punishment given to the christians by nero

Answer 7

“punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty”

Question 8

describe the course of persecution by nero (R banks)

Answer 8

an immense multitude were arrested
death penalty administered in such a way to entertain and amuse the public swell to humiliate the victim

nero had a perverse delight for cruelty burning christians in his gardens to light it up.

Question 9

what was the impact of Neros persecution on christians

Answer 9

christianity was made a religious illicita (no legal recognition)

change in state attitude the hatred stirred against the church

Neros actions served in a general way as a precedent for later rulers

Question 10

how where nero and Domitian similar

Answer 10

Domitian was regarded as Neros successor in terms of hostility to God

Question 11

example of Domitian acting against those charged with atheism

Answer 11

Flavius Clemens the emperors cousin was executed due to being christian and his wife was exiled to an island

Question 12

why did Domitian want to persecute christians

Answer 12

Domitian had a lot of enthusiasm for the imperial cult

Question 13

describe how Domitian persecuted against christians

Answer 13

great number of men distinguished by birth (born wealthy) where executed without a fair trial and others where banished from the country

Question 14

who were Pliny and Trajan

Answer 14

emperor Trajan and lawyer Pliny

Question 15

where and why did Trajan send Pliny

Answer 15

sent to bithynia in 112ad to fix a corrupt local government as he was by the book

Question 16

what did Pliny encounter on his journey

Answer 16

encountered christians, he was unsure what do to with them as he had never been to christian trials and there was no empire wide policy. so he wrote to Pliny for advice

Question 17

what was Pliny unsure about regarding the persecution of christians

Answer 17

Pliny was unsure if age or if they renounced the faith had an impact on the severity of punishment.

Question 18

what did Pliny tell Trajan his procedure was

Answer 18

he asked the accused christians up to three times if they where a christian reminding them each time of the punishments and if they still said yes they would be led
off for execution

Question 19

how did Pliny describe the christians he encountered

Answer 19

“afflicted with like madness” telling us how low romans thought of christians as though they were mentally unwell

Question 20

what was Trojans reply to Pliny

Answer 20

that it was the correct procedure
however Trajan stated “no general decision can be made” - very unclear uncertainty within roman law which gives christianity space to grow
Trajan also states “they mustn’t be ferreted out” tells us he doesn’t really mind living with christians in Rome - not seen as criminals

however also states “if they are found and convicted they must be punished” uncertainty on law empire wide allows christianity to grow

Question 21

what was on the anonymous letter Pliny received?

Answer 21

the names of christians some already been questioned others not

Question 22

what did Pliny do with the anonymous letter

Answer 22

took it serious and went to all the names on the list making them invoke the gods and do reverence to your image showing how the roman interest was to maintain traditional values.

Question 23

what did Trajan think of what Pliny had done with the anonymous letter?

Answer 23

Trajan thought Pliny should have shown no attention to it as they are unworthy

Question 24

what does this correspondence tell us about how christians where treated?

Answer 24

Pliny states “they were led off to be executed when accused” and “slaves were tortured”

Question 25

how was Marcus Aurelius raised?

Answer 25

tutored from a young age by fronto who was an opponent of christianity
he was a student of the stoic philosophy therefor ideologically opposed to christianity - he martyred many christians during his reign with polycarp and Blandina being two

Question 26

reasons why the church wasn’t continiously persecuted (add a however)

Answer 26

great difference between the governments position of persecution and their enforcement on the position

some emperors where neutral in their position on christianity giving long periods of time where christianity was not bothered

its inaccurate to say from the time of nero to Constantine the church suffered constant persecution

however - christians where not equals before the law with other citizens

Question 27

reasons backing that there was no consistent policy on persecuting christians nero-aurelius

Answer 27

Nero used christians as a scapegoat 64ad

nero found the persecution to be entertaining

different severity of punishment between emperors

Pliny a layer was in doubt on how to deal with them Trajan gave unclear answer