The Decline and Fall of what, exactly?

The earliest documented persecution of Christians came in 64 C.E., but lasted only a little while, when Emperor Nero tried to blame the great fire of Rome on Christians. Remember, though, that Nero could and did persecute anyone, at any time, for anything, or for nothing. He died four years later, and good riddance to him.

The first widespread religious persecutions, however, did not begin for another 250 years, give or take an annum. And the persecutors were not pagans, but Christians.

This column is not a polemic, nor an attempt to persuade anyone of anything. It’s an historical inquiry, based on Mark Twain’s theory that “history does not repeat, but it rhymes.”

It is based, above all, on ancient historians, including Tacitus, Suetonius, St. Augustine of Hippo, Eusebius, Athanasius, Cicero, Lucian, Origen, John Chrysostom, and those cats, in translation. I cannot read Latin or Greek. But since no one but professors could, or would bother to, translate those fellows, I have to rely on the professors, who usually have no ax to grind, unless it could lead to tenure.

Well, according to the ancient historians, and modern scholarship, once the Christians gained the upper hand, ‘round about 312 C.E., when Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, there had been no widespread religious persecutions in the ancient world, save Nero’s bogus attempt to cover his insanity.

Stretching back for more than 1,000 years from those days, when a warlord or emperor or raging maniac conquered another tribe/people/nation, they did not persecute the people who worshiped other gods. They added the other guys’ gods to whatever gods they already had. No harm no foul.

Only when Christians became top dogs did widespread religious persecutions begin. I’m not going to get into that now; what I would like to point out is that early Christianity was spread, in great measure, through tales of early Christian martyrs: people who died for their faith.

Mind you: Before the early 4th century, no one in what we know as the Western World had to die for their faith, because no one wanted to kill anyone for worshipping a different god.

It was the early Christians who insisted, “Nope, sorry, there’s only the one God. And if you disagree, we’ll kill you, destroy your temples and burn your libraries.” And they did.

Thus also began the Christians’ violent attacks upon Jews.

Why do I bring this up now, in our fraught political season? It’s because our powerful, self-admiring, White-nationalist Christian politicians make such a big phony deal, day after day, about being martyrs. I don’t have to give you citations, now known as links. Just open your eyes and ears.

Bear in mind: I am not unloading here upon White Christians. I am unloading upon White nationalist so-called Christian politicians, who pound their expensive Schlumpf Bibles and claim they are being persecuted.

For what and by whom? Prove it. Prove one time, any of 271 Republicans warming seats in Congress today, that you were dealt with unjustly, by anyone, for anything, at any time.

In short: Quit whining. Do your jobs. Prove that any of your bleats are true. Quit trying to erase history. Quit lying that horrible, dangerous nonbelievers are doing to you what you are truly doing to them.

And if you can’t do any of that, then shut up. I don’t care what you think about your religion, or anyone else’s. Read the Gospels and then shut up and leave us alone.

At the very least, quit using your gerrymandered votes as slimy, predigested food to shovel, like the cowards you are, into your master’s mouth. And you know as well as I do that your master ain’t JC: it DJT.

And speaking of the seven deadly sins, they are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger and apathy. Sound like anyone you know?

Here’s another good one: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Ever heard that one?

Happy birthday, United States. How many candles can you blow out in four years?