by Laura Montana

Created on: October 05, 2009   Last Updated: December 07, 2010

Countless times Christians have complained they are being persecuted in the United States. What seems to be happening is they are simply not getting what they want. And what they want is for Christianity to be the official religion of this country. They want children to pray Christian prayers in school no matter what their religious upbringing may be. They want the Ten Commandments and other Christian symbols displayed in government buildings. They want Christians in places of power making our laws conform to Biblical law. To know what true religious persecution looks like, today's Christians only have to look at other countries or their own history.

For someone to be persecuted, they must be unjustly harassed or mistreated. The definition of the word 'persecute' according to the Merriam-Webster On-line Dictionary is to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically: to cause to suffer because of belief or to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities). Telling a religious group they must follow the same rules as all other religious groups does not fit that definition.

There is no doubt that Christians are persecuted in other countries. It is horrible that people are treated so badly because of their religious beliefs. Religious persecution continues in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The difference is, no one is killed or arrested because of their beliefs in the United States. Our legal system provides relief and protection through our courts against unfair treatment.

Christians use every opportunity to disparage the ACLU, even though the ACLU has fought for Christian rights the same as it has for many other groups (see The ACLU is Not Evil by Stephen L. Carter at www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/may/22.64.html). Christians do not like the ACLU because it has fought against them so many times protecting our Separation of Church and State. All religions are protected under our constitution, and it's only right that they all be treated equally and fairly.

I once heard a parent say any child not wanting to take part in school prayer could stand in the hall. There was no care or concern about causing these children to stand out as different or wrong. Rather than be singled out to stand in the hall, these children might decide to pretend they are Christians to avoid being targeted for persecution by the Christian children. What gives the Christians the right to take over a classroom and

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