I remember learning about history in school, often wondering, “how could those people be so stupid?”
How could they really believe in witches, with tests like “you must drown to prove your innocence”? How could they prosecute Galileo for science or execute Socrates. We’re so much smarter and more advanced today, of course.
I’ve seen the term “heresy trial” pop up several times in the past week, and the term fits.
If you consider a heresy trial to be one where someone is persecuted because they’re thought to have religious beliefs that are different from the ruling class, we’ve got a bunch.
Then & now
The Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s were fueled by mass hysteria and religious fanaticism and resulted in the deaths of 19 people. Two hundred years prior, Joan of Arc was found guilty and burned at the stake for heresy, witchcraft, and wearing men’s clothing.
Ironically, we’re now at a complete turnabout. Now, the people being persecuted are the members of churches. They stand accused of the heresy of intolerance.
Here are just a few of them:
Finnish politician Paivi Rasanen was charged by her government of making comments likely to cause intolerance, contempt, and hatred towards gay people. She had quoted the Bible. Rasanen went on trial for the Bible-quoting and was, fortunately and to the disappointment of the Finnish government, acquitted.
A U.K. street preacher was charged with a hate crime for quoting the Bible as well. The charges were dropped after the lesbian woman accusing him of the crime refused to testify. During the proceedings a Senior Crown Prosecutor said that “There are references in the bible which are simply no longer appropriate in modern society and which would be deemed offensive if stated in public.”
Colorado cake baker Jack Phillips has been persecuted since 2012, when he first refused to make a cake for a gay wedding, citing his religious objection. He has since received hundreds of requests from people setting him up by demanding cakes they knew he would refuse. He has been to court numerous times.
Gym teacher Tanner Cross was fired for refusing to use a student’s preferred pronouns. Fortunately, a court ordered that he be reinstated.
A U.K. woman was arrested - twice - for silently praying outside an abortion clinic.
There are many more examples of persecution by employers, governments, and the general public for the religious beliefs of people who are overwhelmingly Christian and living in societies that pride themselves on their tolerance.
It just depends whom you’re being tolerant of, I guess.
A quote from Fulton Sheen: It is said that America is suffering from intolerance - It is Not. It is suffering from tolerance, Tolerance from right and wrong, good and evil…
Dr. Stamford must have Pharma stock.