Christians did not rebel against Rome. They did not use force or defend themselves when the Roman authorities came for them. Nonetheless, they were an unpopular minority in the Empire. First, some of Christianity’s ideas were patently offensive to Roman sensibilities. The idea of using a cross as a symbol of hope was absurd. Crucifixion was the ugliest, most degrading, and most painful form of execution the Romans could devise — a punishment reserved for slaves, rebels, and the dregs of society. Using a cross as a symbol for a religion would be roughly as outrageous and tasteless as Jews in
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