Who, of you reading this, has personally been persecuted for his or her beliefs or non-beliefs?

Question

Please give some detail.

Answer 1

During the early 60's, I was beaten-up four times by Christian members of my High School's football team, because my blabbermouth sister revealed my atheism to the wrong person. Each time, the Christian bullies gave me the oppurtunity to repent and accept Jesus as my savior, but I always refused as a matter of principle.

As an adult I've been fired from two good corporate jobs because, "The shareholders wouldn't like it if they knew we had an atheist on the payroll." This happened during the mid-70's.

I once had a cross burned in my front yard. Granted, it was only about three feet high, but it was a flaming cross nonetheless. (Mid-80's.)

I now keep a 12-gauge pump and a box of buckshot in my house because I have a persistent fear of fundamentalist Christians.

Answer 2

If you live in America, then you have NO clue what persecution really is.
Just because people say mean things about you, or because you get made fun of doesn't even scratch the surface.
Ever been jailed? Or beaten? No, because if so everyone would have heard about it on CNN. Ever had your home burned? Ever had a family member killed or raped?

Answer 3

I have been, and no doubt will be in the future, shunned by the members of a certain religion that I was a member of in the past.

I wouldn't exactly call it persecution though, as to shun former members is one of their rules, but I certainly see it as a somewhat hateful act to totally ignore someone you've known for over 16 years and were once close to.

Answer 4

Because I am a christian I find that I am put under a microscope and judged much more than when I was doing my own thing. I cant even say what I believe without someone saying something about it. I am called narrow minded because of what I believe. If I tell someone God loves you, I am being religious. If I say homosexulity is wrong, I am being homophobic. If I say I'll pray for things to change in your life, I am being unrealistic. If I say I dont have sex without being married, I am being stupid. If I walk in love instead of cussing someone out, I am being a punk. If I dont do the things I use to do, I am being a goody-goody. If I make a mistake, I am a hypocrite. But its all Good - Treated like Jesus was treated is fine with me. If he could handle it, I can too.

Answer 5

I can't say persecuted really, but because of my beliefs, my mother won't speak to me anymore. Because I am a sheep that belongs to Jesus' flock, I am now a black sheep in my mother's eyes. The bible warned us about this though. I still pray my mom';s heart will be touched by God, but He is a gentleman and won't force His way into someone's heart.

Answer 6

There are many things in history that the word "persecution" belongs to more than to my life, but I have been unfairly treated because I'm an atheist. Mostly socially...probably because I'm not dumb enough to spread it around work.

Answer 7

I lost a couple of friends when I was in college because of my beliefs in witchcraft. I got called things like "devil worshipper," "weirdo," "you're going to hell..." et. al. One girl whom I thought was my friend said that she was going to laugh as I burned in hell. Some friend, huh? Then my roommate started saying that she saw "demons" in our room because I was a witch. I told her that witches don't believe in demons, and if she saw one, she needed to see a shrink. But she later apologized after she read up on witchcraft. Unfortunately, the others didn't. They preferred to wallow in their ignorance.

Then, a couple of years ago, I worked at this salon. I wore a small pentacle and the manager said, "Keep your witchy sh** at home. You'll scare away the clients." That really hurt my feelings. Now I know not to wear the pentacle in the workplace or in public.

Why do people have to stereotype like that?

Answer 8

I told someone that I was an Atheist and they never talked to me again! about a week later a religious fish symbol was edged into my car door and the words rot in hell!! brand new car at the time about 5 years back!

I made a pledge to myself that day ,that I will never take prisoners no matter what! religion has disgusted me ,and continues to do so on a grand scale!

Answer 9

We have a gay friend who tells me and my husband that WE are going to hell because we're Pagans. Does that make any sense?? Other than that, I have to say I haven't experienced any true persecution, surprisingly.

Answer 10

I have been at the end of bullying but not persecution.