The Bubonic Plague

Slavery, the “Peculiar Institution” of the South, caused suffering among an innumerable number of human beings. Some people could argue that the life of a domestic animal would be better than being a slave; at least animals are incapable of feeling emotions. Suffering countless atrocities, including sexual assault, beatings, and murders, these slaves endured much more than we would think is humanly possible today. Yet, white southern “Christians” committed these atrocities, believing their behaviors were neither wrong nor immoral. Looking back at these atrocities, those who call themselves Christians are

‘Christians to the lions’ as Trajan would say, an emperor in the early centuries Christianity to them have alienated the favour of their gods which has and would continue to cause disasters in the Roman Empire. The misfortune of Christians did not stop during this period, but it did come to a composed halt as Galerius, gave Christians the right to worship in some sense. Christianity during the early stages was clearly a course of persecution and forced pagan accusations. Constantine dramatically changed the recourse of religions with the battle of Milvian Bridge as Christianity became the predominant religion of the Roman Empire.

From the third to the fourth century, the Roman Empire witnessed a widespread attempt to stop the spread of Christianity. Initially, leaders of the church were predominately targeted, but later anyone admitting to Christianity became a target. The persecutions hit a climax during Diocletian’s reign. These persecutions actually helped the spread of Christianity by glorifying Christians and beginning a tradition of martyrdom that shaped the Church, and the strength that Christians displayed shows that the persecutions could not have possible stopped the spread of Christianity.

Pursell The Black Death Reassessed What really happened to Europe during Black Death? For years, the accepted version of the event has been that a plague from the East, carried by rodents who were infected by fleas, traveled by trade routes and subsequently infected Europeans. The name of this plague is infamously known as the Bubonic Plague; it’s said to have claimed the lives of a third of the continent’s population. Not everyone accepts the prominent version of this event though. In this essay, we will read of two scholars who dispute the official narrative of the Bubonic plague; one scholar will apply this revisionism solely to England, whereas the other will look at Europe as a whole. Moreover, death toll estimates will be scrutinized too. In addition, we will read of a third scholar who offers insight into the aftermath of the Black Death in England in terms of its social and economic development. Clearly, something devastating struck Europe in the 14th century. Whatever it was might not ever be exactly known. However, for the sake of understanding its true impact upon European society, it’s worth reassessing this long-held account. In his writing, The Black Death:

According to Gaddis (2005) some of the Christians were tortured as well as being burnt alive, while others were publicly executed. Furthermore, it would seem that the more the Romans persecuted them, the more their hatred grew for them, as they believed them to be disobedient and a danger to the Empire. As such they did everything in their power to rid themselves of the Christians. The only consequence for the Christians at this time was, they either obeyed the law by sacrificing to the Pagan Gods or face persecution. However, Gaddis (2005) suggests that some of the Christians looked at the Roman persecution as not so much a Roman persecution, but one from their own God, who was testing their faith so that they could repent for their

There would be priests who would encourage each other to be like Jesus, according to G.R. Evans, “ ‘Who gives us relief from our pain through contrition, and through confession we receive a purgative; he recommends a healthier diet through our keeping of fast; he orders therapeutic baths through our outpouring of tears; he prescribes bloodletting through our recollection of Christ’s passion. But what is this medicine?”-Penance. This shows another reason why death mortality was so large, people would mix religion with medicine. Instead of them actually making an effort for finding a solution, most of the priest just believed that it was God’s way of punishing them and the only way for it to go away is to pray for

The spiritual significance of illness and suffering is a topic Christians continue to grapple with, as Larchet points out in The Theology of Illness. Scripture offers a wealth of wisdom and cues for understanding illness, health, and healing from a Christian perspective. Larchet analyzes the various and often contradictory Christian positions on health and illness, revealing how attitudes have shifted over time and with changes in medical technology, practice, and ethics. For example, St. Barsanuphius presents a comprehensive analysis of the spiritual significance of illness and suffering. One view holds that illness signifies a lack of faith; another presents illness in terms of a person who is offered the opportunity to develop a stronger faith, or whose faith is being put to a test like the story of Job. Ultimately, the latter remains the most helpful way to approach illness and healing from a Christian perspective. The essence of Christian health care is that, "Healing itself, while resulting from natural processes, actually comes from God," (Larchet 116).

Hays’s The Burdens of Disease first chapter “Western Inheritance” discusses how different religions reacted to diseases and sickness. Hays discusses four main religions: the Aclepsian, Hippocratic, Galen, and Christianity. The Cult of Aclepios had the most notable healing traditions of the early Greeks according to Hays. According to Hays those who were sick would go to Aclepios’s temple and have ritual sacrifices, ritual bathing’s, and an “incubation sleep” (pg.9). This slumber would allow them to receive messages on what to do or automatic healing from the god himself.

Therefore, the suffering and sorrow that you and I face today isn’t because of a “bad God”, it has come down through our generational line and we suffer because we are sinners. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Some people may say “ I lead a good life, I am not hurting anyone, I give to charity… ”But this isn’t good enough in Gods eyes, people need to overcome sin and selfishness which is within all of us. We are all born into a nature of sin, which has been passed down from Adam and Eve.

“Under Caesar’ Sword,” a report funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, is the very first systematic global study of Christians’ response to persecution. For three years, 14 scholars studied religious persecution and the responses to abuse of religious freedom in more than 30 countries, the Catholic News Agency details.

“St.Cyprian on Epidemic Disease in the Roman Empire” was written by St. Cyprian. In the source the argument is the plague epidemic is liberating Christians from the world filled with diseasing and pain. The author stated “The epidemic is a pestilence for the Jews and the pagans, but for the servant of God it’s a welcome event” . Many Christians weren’t afraid of the afterlife, they believed Christ will welcome them with open arms as a gift for their suffering. Those who follow Christ will have everlasting refreshment and protection. The source is questioning evil, and those who don’t believe God. For example, “It requires great loftiness to stand firm amidst the ruins of the human race, not to concede defeat with those who have no hope in God, but rather to rejoice and embrace the gift of the time” . The Christians during this time had to have a

St. Cyprian explains the horrors that are being suffered by Christians in extremely descriptive detail. As he describes it, the people suffering from this disease would have had severe diarrhea, sores in their throats, vomiting, and blood-shot eyes. Sometimes, the victims of this disease may have had a limb amputated. Other victims may have suffered from limited mobility as well as sight and hearing loss. In St. Cyprian's mind, if you were a Christian plagued by this disease, you could consider it a welcome event. Even though the just were dying alongside the unjust, the evil and good in the world did not face a common destruction. If you were a just person affected by the disease, you would be given fresh mental and physical strength.

To start, one of the major reasons Christianity spread as quickly as it did was because of its teachings. Jesus taught his many followers stories of love, whether

Religious Persecution of Christian Beliefs What is religious persecution? At the beginning of this project, I thought religious persecution was a black and white topic with a clear definition. I thought that religious persecution was simply the persecution of a group because of their religious faith. However, I discovered that there are no simple explanations of religious persecution, and it is a much more complex and controversial issue than I had imagined. In fact, some events categorized as religious persecution reveal only shades of grey and ambiguities and do not neatly fit this simple definition. I wanted others to come to this same understanding. Therefore, I have formulated my own definition of religious persecution.

St. Cyprian answered the Romans incrimination of the Christians being denounced for the plague in a manner that proved his loyalty to the Almighty. St. Cyprian announces that the Lord tests all men in efforts to find those completely devoted to him. The Christian faith becomes verified with the onset of a catastrophic disease because one who is devoted to the Lord finds no reason to hold onto material ideals; “With Christ as our judge, we should receive this gift as the reward of his faith, as we vigorously affirm our faith and, having suffered, advance toward Christ by Christ’s narrow path…”. Only the devout believers in Christ will welcome an atrocious end with the understanding in their God that this is not a punishment but a reward. That