text: At one time, Christianity was an illegal religion in Rome.  The Christians who were fed to lions, hung on crosses to die, dipped in Tar and put on fire to light celebrations, and put to death by a whole host of other interesting tortures, were those who were found to be partaking in what were declared illegal and heretical Christian activities.  Those who were killed included Christian Leaders as well as their followers and many people who were wrongly accused of being Christians by neighbors who had grudges and wanted them punished.\n\nMost Christians were from the poor. Rich and educated Romans followed other religions, not Christianity. For example, The Military followed Mithra almost to a man.  Many Roman women followed the worship of the Mother of God, Isis.  Most Roman men followed the worship of the Roman Emperor, who was by law the son of God (which was why the Christian beliefs were considered heretical).\n\nSomehow, I don't think that the men, women and children who were killed for being poor and found in the wrong place because they were following a religion which was teaching them they would be rewarded in heaven for their piety and poverty here in this life, had any real leftist leanings.  Most of them were more interested in trying to find their next meal.