Anti-Christian sentiment or Christophobia constitutes opposition or objections to Christians, the Christian religion, and/or its practices. Anti-Christian sentiment is sometimes referred to as Christophobia or Christianophobia, although these terms actually encompass "every form of discrimination and intolerance against Christians", according to the Council of European Episcopal Conferences.[1][2][3]
Anti-Christian sentiment in the first century
Anti-Christian sentiment emerged during the Imperial age[clarification needed] in the first century. The steady growing of the Christian movement was viewed with suspicion by both the authority and people in Rome. During the second century, Christianity was viewed as negative into two ways. The first encompasses the accusation of the Christian faith in accordance with Roman principles among the population. The second, the supplementary controversy aroused during the intellectual age.[4]
Anti-Christian sentiment is visible in the New Testament, and seems to have been anticipated by Jesus of Nazareth, as reported by the gospel writers. The anti-Christian sentiment of the first century was not limited to the Roman authorities, but also came from the Jews. As Christianity was at this point a sect emerging largely from Judaism,[5] this sentiment was the anger of an established religion towards a revolutionary new faith. Paul of Tarsus, who himself persecuted Christians before becoming one, highlights the Crucifixion as being a 'stumbling block' to the Jews, and the idea that the messiah would have died on a cross was offensive to some of the Jews who awaited a messiah with different characteristics. [6]
See also
References
- ^ "ANTI-CHRISTIAN - Definition and synonyms of anti-Christian in the English dictionary". educalingo.com. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- ^ "Definition of ANTI-CHRISTIAN". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- ^ "ANTI-CHRISTIAN | Definition of ANTI-CHRISTIAN by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of ANTI-CHRISTIAN". Lexico Dictionaries | English. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- ^ WAGEMAKERS, BART (2010). "INCEST, INFANTICIDE, AND CANNIBALISM: ANTI-CHRISTIAN IMPUTATIONS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE". Greece & Rome. 57 (2): 337–354. ISSN 0017-3835.
- ^ "Religion:Christianity". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "Religions: Paul". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2021.