# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/141 "2013-02-01T20:02:14Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, they arne’t persecuted. It’s just that some Christians think they are being persecuted if they aren’t granted unconditional respect & preeminence and have license to trample on everyone else. They think it’s persecution if they aren’t allowed to persecute others. This is pretty much the same reason some white males feel discriminated against. The deck just isn’t stacked in their favor as much as it used to be and it bothers them. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/142 "2013-02-01T20:08:11Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > This is pretty much the same reason some white males feel discriminated against. The deck just isn’t stacked in their favor as much as it used to be and it bothers them. I’ve certainly seen plenty of\* that\*. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/143 "2013-02-01T20:10:04Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > This is pretty much the same reason some white males feel discriminated against. The deck just isn’t stacked in their favor as much as it used to be and it bothers them. Nope. Sometimes white males are actually discriminated against. It does happen. To lump them all into a group and say they aren’t, just because they have advantages as a group, completely misses the point of ending discrimination in the first place. Now, that’s not to say that white males are “persecuted.” Maybe you should have said “This is pretty much the same reason some white males feel persecuted.” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/144 "2013-02-01T20:16:28Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Scientologists. We tried that. The lions spit them out. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/145 "2013-02-01T21:03:22Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > I didn’t say it was persecution. Read the question I was asked please. I did, and I chose to relate it back to its relevance to the actual topic of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/146 "2013-02-01T23:05:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I did, and I chose to relate it back to its relevance to the actual topic of the thread. Ah, I see. No, it’s not persecution, but it is denial of religious rights. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/147 "2013-02-01T23:14:47Z")
I’m reminded of the question, which is more likely to cause people to get angry at you. Standing up at a park and declaring “I believe in God” or declaring “I don’t”. That’s not of course to imply that it’s tough to be an atheist in the US or anything similar. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/148 "2013-02-02T01:22:27Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Maybe you should have said “This is pretty much the same reason some white males feel persecuted.” Yeah, thats probably closer to what I meant to say. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/149 "2013-02-02T01:27:40Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > > > [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > > > > > Wait, they’re _not_ persecuted? Then what the hell am I supposed feed these lions? > > > > Scientologists. > > We tried that. The lions spit them out. Lion: “Ewwwww. Tastes like thetans.” ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/150 "2013-02-02T13:37:53Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > What about where it says: > > _Imagine there’s no countries > It isn’t hard to do > Nothing to kill or die for > And no religion too_ As I see it ,it is pro- religion, trying to let some one know "if " there was no religion, waht would the world be like. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/151 "2013-02-02T14:11:24Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > As I see it ,it is pro- religion, trying to let some one know "if " there was no religion, waht would the world be like. It’s the possibility he is actually wishing for — he wants there to be “nothing to kill or die for,” like country or religion. It’s pretty clear. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/152 "2013-02-02T16:01:16Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s the possibility he is actually wishing for — he wants there to be “nothing to kill or die for,” like country or religion. It’s pretty clear. Asking someone to imagine something has nothing to do with wishing for it. If I ask you to imagine the flavor of ice cream with motor oil topping, it doesn’t mean I wish that I could have a bowl of it. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/153 "2013-02-02T16:21:37Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Yeah, thats probably closer to what I meant to say. Okay. Thanks for listening. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/154 "2013-02-02T16:22:43Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > As I see it ,it is pro- religion, trying to let some one know "if " there was no religion, waht would the world be like. “and no religion TOO.” Clearly he’s pining for a world without killing, dying or religion. And implying that religion is the main reason for the killing and dying. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/155 "2013-02-02T17:21:31Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > “and no religion TOO.” > > Clearly he’s pining for a world without killing, dying or religion. And implying that religion is the main reason for the killing and dying. That appears to be how BAC Mark David Chapman read it, at any rate. So he stood up to the persecution. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/156 "2013-02-05T21:20:05Z")
Persecution? Discrimination? How about 7 state constituitions that explicitly deny equal protection and opportunity to atheists? [http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm](http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/157 "2013-02-05T22:57:50Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > Persecution? Discrimination? How about 7 state constituitions that explicitly deny equal protection and opportunity to atheists? > > [http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm](http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm) Any of those enforced, or are they just on the books still? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/158 "2013-02-06T00:02:54Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > Persecution? Discrimination? How about 7 state constituitions that explicitly deny equal protection and opportunity to atheists? > > [http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm](http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/StateConstitutions.htm) Well, yeah, and in Virginia nobody lives with each other in a sexual relationship without being married, because that’s ILLEGAL. 😃 > **[Senate panel supports legislation to make cohabitation legal](https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/senate-panel-supports-legislation-to-make-cohabitation-legal/article_af1af4c9-2a4a-5c41-b2f2-291efadcd03a.html)** > > Legislation would erase a 19th century statute that makes it illegal for unmarried adults to live together. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/159 "2013-02-06T02:23:18Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Any of those enforced, or are they just on the books still? More importantly, has there been any resistance to taking them _off_ the books? ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639/160 "2013-02-06T04:17:21Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Well, yeah, and in Virginia nobody lives with each other in a sexual relationship without being married, because that’s ILLEGAL. 😃 > > [Senate panel supports legislation to make cohabitation legal](http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/senate-panel-supports-legislation-to-make-cohabitation-legal/article_af1af4c9-2a4a-5c41-b2f2-291efadcd03a.html) Heh. I used to live a town where it was illegal to ride a horse on Sunday or wear “bright colors” on Sunday but I doubt either have been enforced in several centuries. You’ll find laws like that on the books all over New England. I remember hearing from a friend who grew up in a town which had a law on the books forbidding the smoking of pipes after IIRC, 10:00. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-christians-in-america-persecuted/647639.md?page=9)