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I think the thing that I most appreciate now is that stereotypes involving Jewish identity activate fears of persecution that exist in the present day.

Most Christian 'believers' tend to echo the cultural prejudices and worldviews of the dominant group in their country, with only a minority revealing any real transformation of attitudes or consciousness. It has been true of slavery and racism, classism and consumerism and issues of immigration and health care for the poor.

Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.

I think there's an awful lot of noise about the Church being persecuted but there is a more real issue that the conventional churches face - that the people who are really driving their revival and success believe in an old-time religion which, in my view, is incompatible with a modern, multi-ethnic, multicultural society.

Every religious pioneer, including Jesus Christ, was persecuted by his contemporaries. But once people understand me, their turn can be dramatic like Saint Paul's.

Persecution of Christians is growing around the world, and Congress needs to pay more attention to it.

Persecutions are inevitable as a Christian. We are not greater than our Master, Jesus Christ, in whose Holy Spirit we gain strength to endure.

And in times and places where there was not much persecution, people could become and continue Christians who neither were nor professed to be very devoted persons.

Religious persecution may shield itself under the guise of a mistaken and over-zealous piety.

Almost every sect of Christianity is a perversion of its essence, to accommodate it to the prejudices of the world.