Category:Persecution of Christians (subject)

Three major issues:

• Christianity was perceived as an Anti-Roman movement. After all, Christians preached the Fall of Rome and the coming of the Kingdom of God and their leader had being executed as an enemy of Rome.

• Christianity was perceived as a treat to the unity and stability of the Empire. Romans were polytheistic and very tolerant but the Christians opposed the Imperial Cult, which was mean to keep united the different components of the Roman society.

• Roman Law made a sharp distinction between an ancient established religion and a new Sect (superstition). Christians claimed to be rooted in Judaism, but were a new community.

Many Christians were publicly executed at the Coliseum in Rome.