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A common argument offered by Christian apologists is, "Why would the apostles and other early Christians have died for something they didn't believe in?" In The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom, author Candida Moss, a skilled story teller and a thorough academic, has answered that question with great thoughtfulness and in deep detail. While intended for a popular audience, The Myth of Persecution is rigorously methodical and carefully referenced. Unlike like many other overly earnest volumes on such topics, it is also emotionally engaging in its presentation. After carefully laying a historical foundation in the first five chapters, Moss builds an imposing edifice in the last three, explaining how the largely inaccurate myth of persecution has been put to poor use by the Church, Christians, and Western political leaders since the 4th century. The Myth of Persecution is as entertaining as it is erudite, as important as it is troubling. The Myth of Persecution is an important book for anyone interested in history of Christianity. If attempting to understand religion is your thing this book is worth your time.
