Lactantius reasoned that coerced religion was the opposite of true religion, and so it was illogical. He pointed out that if one has to use force to advance one’s religion, the arguments in favour of that religion must be pretty weak: “If the reasoning is sound,” he said, “let them argue it! We are ready to listen.” Violence shows you have already lost, he argues. Christians, on the other hand, are happy to die for their faith, since they know they have already won the Truth.
