# Are Christians in America persecuted? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 18, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639 "2013-01-18T18:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/81 "2013-01-28T22:41:12Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Well…thank God I can’t be burned at the stake on the internet. No, but you can sure act like a martyr anyway. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/82 "2013-01-28T22:42:26Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Well…thank God I can’t be burned at the stake on the internet. I’ve read enough of your posts to know that this has to be asked: Are you using the same definition of “persecution” as the rest of us, or is this another case of you having your own secret definition again? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/83 "2013-01-28T22:46:44Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How could anybody possibly mistake “Imagine” for a love song?! The word “love” in that sentence is superfluous. The claim that Christians are persecuted in the U.S., reminds me of the antivaxer in another forum who declared she was the victim of “hate speech”, and trotted out a definition under which any group that faces public criticism is the victim of “hate speech” - which would enshrine pedophiles, Klan members and lawyers as hate speech victims. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/84 "2013-01-28T22:50:55Z")
Guys, guys- \*\*Debaser \*\*and his buddies are totally correct; Christians \*are \*persecuted. Unfairly so, and it’s a damn shame. I, for one, look forward to the day when we can \*finally \*have an openly Christian President. ---
**Author:** ![pchaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/258eb7/32.png) [@pchaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pchaos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/85 "2013-01-28T22:52:47Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Guys, guys- \*\*Debaser \*\*and his buddies are totally correct; Christians \*are \*persecuted. Unfairly so, and it’s a damn shame. > > I, for one, look forward to the day when we can \*finally \*have an openly Christian President. How about JFK. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/86 "2013-01-28T23:01:11Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Maybe we’re not being persecuted in U.S., but we’re being persecuted on SDMB. You are welcome to make that claim if you like, but this sounds like an effort to re-argue issues from your other threads in front of a different audience. That’s more of a dodge than anything else and it would certainly be a very annoying way to argue. If you intend to back up this assertion, please do so in a measured and thorough way and without recapping all of your other threads. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/87 "2013-01-28T23:04:29Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > How about JFK. Was JFK persecuted? IIRC, several Protestants (one group of Christians) didn’t like the fact that he was Catholic (another group of Christians). They elected him as the first (and so far only) non-Protestant POTUS anyway, none of whom have been non-Christian. Even Nixon was a Quaker. Or am I missing the example here? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/88 "2013-01-28T23:05:47Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Or am I missing the example here? I believe **pchaos** took \*\*Lightnin’\*\*s extremely sarcastic post at face value. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/89 "2013-01-28T23:16:30Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I believe **pchaos** took \*\*Lightnin’\*\*s extremely sarcastic post at face value. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/90 "2013-01-31T13:14:00Z")
I find it interesting that many Christians worry about being persecuted, The early Chrisians didn’t; from what I read about the first Christians was that they were more concerned about living as a Christian was supposed to live, not trying to look and see if others were following them. Too many nowdays (that I know) are more like the Pharisees they just want others to look up to them and feel it is their business what others do, so can’t do as they should themselves. They want to look religious, but not act as the man they claim to folllow did,and directed them to live as he did .Many claim the Bible is the word of God, but know very little if what it says, they pick and choose what sees to fit how they want to live, but do not allow the others to do the same. Of course this isn’t all Christians but the ones who seem to be living as they believe, aren’t worried about weither they are being persecuted. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/91 "2013-01-31T13:20:25Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Well…thank God I can’t be burned at the stake on the internet. Do you believe you are persecuted on the SDMB because people disagree with you? If so what does being persecuted mean to you? There are Atheists who are disagreed with, but I would not say they are being persecuted and don’t complain that they are. Even though If an Athiest were to run as president do you think they would even stand a slight chance? If so, I know I wouldn’t say they were persecuted , just discriminated against. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/92 "2013-01-31T14:10:53Z")
The disgusting joke of this question is that about 3/4 of Americans identify as Christian. So, who exactly is doing the persecuting? The atheist president? Oh, wait . . . maybe the Muslim controlled senate? Oh, wait . . . I know, it’s those Jews in Hollywood, right? You’re not persecuted . . . it’s just that you can no longer expect your neighbor to practice his Christianity in the same way that you do. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/93 "2013-01-31T14:19:31Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Well…thank God I can’t be burned at the stake on the internet. People here argue with you. You are not censored, your posts are not deleted, and you are not banned because of the pro-Christian stuff you post. All of these happen regularly on Christian boards to people who post things they disagree with, even if they’re true. You are free to express your opinion on here without fear of being banned just because you’re a Christian. You are complaining because your opinion isn’t held to a special standard, and that people here are allowed to disagree with it. That is not persecution, no matter how many time you want to say it. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/94 "2013-01-31T14:50:48Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Churches and church related activities have tax exempt status. Donations to churches are exempt from taxes. Churches are permitted to advertise same as any other business, but any additional money they receive from patrons recruited via advertising: untaxed. Federal holidays allow many (most?) school children and employees to stay home and celebrate the Big Two Christian holidays though no other religious group is afforded the same perks. Proselytizers are permitted to ignore no solicitation orders. School children are not permitted to wear headwraps in many schools, but crosses are welcomed everywhere. > > Persecuted? Ha. Elevated above all other beliefs and awarded paid religious holidays, freedom to trespass, and kick backs in the form of tax exempt status. Where do you live? Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashannah have been school holidays in these parts since at least the 1960’s. (Those are Jewish holy days in case you weren’t aware). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/95 "2013-01-31T15:05:31Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Well…thank God I can’t be burned at the stake on the internet. The technology is still in its infancy. Research continues. Be patient. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/96 "2013-01-31T15:08:38Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Guys, guys- \*\*Debaser \*\*and his buddies are totally correct; Christians \*are \*persecuted. Unfairly so, and it’s a damn shame. > > I, for one, look forward to the day when we can \*finally \*have an openly Christian President. > [@pchaos](#): > > How about JFK. Him? No, I don’t think so, I’m pretty sure he was a Catholic. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/97 "2013-01-31T15:17:16Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Where do you live? Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashannah have been school holidays in these parts since at least the 1960’s. (Those are Jewish holy days in case you weren’t aware). This is not true in most of the country. Jewish kids are permitted to have religious holidays off, like anyone else, but school doesn’t close. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/98 "2013-01-31T15:47:54Z")
> [@pchaos](#): > > Maybe we’re not being persecuted in U.S., but we’re being persecuted on SDMB. I feel your pain. As a snowboarder, I always feel persecuted when I visit my sister in Phoenix. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/99 "2013-01-31T16:39:39Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I find it interesting that many Christians worry about being persecuted, The early Chrisians didn’t; from what I read about the first Christians was that they were more concerned about living as a Christian was supposed to live, not trying to look and see if others were following them. On the contrary, I’d say, part of the problem is that according to early Christian doctrine, Christians to some extent are _supposed_ to be persecuted. E.g., Matthew 5:11 (KJV): _“Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”_ The basic message is that the larger society is worldly and corrupt, so its natural response to the godly life of Christians will be hostility and attempts at suppression. Consequently, many Christians have a persistent impression that if they’re _not_ being persecuted, they must not be doing it right. So any claim that Christians are being victimized or oppressed by society as a whole counts as a validation of their own righteousness. It’s no wonder that many Christians eagerly embrace such claims. ---
**Author:** ![solosam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/100 "2013-01-31T16:53:15Z")
There has never been a population as UN-persecuted as Christians in America, and it is frankly astonishing that they continue to suggest that they are. +1 to Kimstu. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639.md?page=6)