Wikipedia's explanation of "Martyr"

Martyr - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christian martyrs in the first three centuries A.D. were crucified in the same manner as Roman political prisoners or eaten by lions as a circus spectacle. They are recognized as martyrs because they have preferred to die rather than renounce their Christian faith, usually by making a sacrifice to a pagan deity. The Christian writer Tertullian (200 AD) asserted that 'the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church'.

With the Constantinian shift and the identification of Christianity with the Roman Empire, the tables were turned and pagans sometimes became martyrs if they refused conversion to Christianity. It didn't take long before Augustine of Hippo authorized the use of force against heretics or fellow Christians who refused to fall in line with orthodoxy. Intra-Christian persecution and the martyrdom that sometimes went with it became institutionalised in the office of the inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church.

Some Christian sects such as Anabaptists and Mormons trace their origins to widespread persecution and martyrdom at the hands of mainstream Christians trying to suppress their break away sects. The Anabaptists have embraced this part of their heritage to such an extent that the book Martyrs Mirror, which describes the deaths of Anabaptist Martyrs in the 16th and 17th century is still widely owned and read in Mennonite and Amish households (see Anabaptist persecution for more).

The 20th century then saw large numbers of Christians martyred by non-Christians again during the persecutions in the totalitarian regimes, most markedly in communist Russia between the two World Wars. After the Fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Orthodox Church has recognized large numbers of these so called New Martyrs.

Estimates of Christian martyrs in the 21st century are about 450 daily, and 160,000 yearly.

I found this definition this morning and just wondered, "Is this how the typical person understands what a Christian martyr is?" Wikipedia cannot blame space for the poor work done on this topic; I've seen some pretty lengthy articles on other things. Well, let this be another lesson for the kids out there: encyclopedia's are not a quality source for information. If one of my kids (who we'll be homeschooling) did a paper on martyrdom and this is what they came up with, believe me there would be a re-write.

For instance, the article said, "Christian martyrs in the first three centuries A.D. were crucified in the same manner as Roman political prisoners or eaten by lions as a circus spectacle." Really? That's it? They were either crucified or thrown to the lions? What about all the other beasts they faced? What about being tied to stakes and lit on fire to light the night sky (as when Nero decided to have a little fun)? What about the fights with the gladiators (though they were not much of fights)?

In the following paragraph I read, "With the Constantinian shift and the identification of Christianity with the Roman Empire, the tables were turned and pagans sometimes became martyrs if they refused conversion to Christianity." Now that makes it look like all of Christianity became the persecutors and the pagan world the martyrs. A poorly chosen statement.

The article did go on to say, "Intra-Christian persecution and the martyrdom that sometimes went with it became institutionalised in the office of the inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church." That is agreed. But then they threw in, "Some Christian sects such as Anabaptists and Mormons trace their origins to widespread persecution and martyrdom at the hands of mainstream Christians trying to suppress their break away sects."

First, there is the problem of equating Anabaptists with Mormons within the banner of "Christian," as well as their respective persecutions and martyrs. In fact, the early leaders of the Mormon church railed against Christianity left and right. They did not have kind words at all for Christians or Christendom. They did not want to have the direct association. They wanted to claim Christ for themselves, and call themselves the true Church of Christ, but they would never appreciate being considered a sect of Christianity. Only in recent decades has there been the social shift within the LDS church to present themselves as Christian, to talk of themselves as Christians: LDS Christians, "we members of the Church of Jesus Christ" purposefully leaving off the "of Latter-day Saints" to get the appearance of being Christian. Now a days, how many LDS will tell you that they are of the Church of Christ while you (a Christian) are of the Church of the Devil? Not too many, eh? Again, part of the shift. Well, they have yet to take the words out of the Book of Mormon (1 Ne. 13:6; 14:3,10).

Second, the reference is obviously to the early years of those groups. How many LDS (and I emphasize LDS) martyrs can you think of? I have two in mind: Hyrum and Joseph Smith. Even their "martyrdoms" are suspect, but I give the benefit of the doubt to the LDS who strongly hold to them being admired as martyrs of their faith. Yes, Mormons were persecuted. Not all of that was based on their faith, though. A lot was their political and social activity. I am amazed Wikipedia would lump Anabaptists in with Mormons. I truly am.

The final sentence, "Estimates of Christian martyrs in the 21st century are about 450 daily, and 160,000 yearly," is accurate. The numbers should stagger people. You think the numbers of Americans being killed in Iraq are high? Just look at China, Somalia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan...and I am talking about Christians not involved in military activity.