In the only reference to Christianity in his Meditations, [Roman Emporer Marcus Aurelius] praises those souls that are ready to abandon their bodies when the time comes, rather than cling to life, and then goes on to say that this attitude is praiseworthy only when it is the outcome of reason, “and not obstinacy, as is the case with Christians.”

– The Story of Christianity, Volume 1, Chapter 6 – Justo L. Gonzalez

Marcus Aurelius became emporer of Rome in the year 161, and was, as Gonzalez reports, “one of the most enlightened minds of his age”. He was “a refined man”.

And yet he ordered the persecution of Christians, in part because he believed that the string of invasions, floods, epidemics and other disasters the empire was experiencing were the manifestations of the wrath of the gods due to the “atheism” of Christians. Christians were often labelled atheists because of their refusal to worship the Greek and Roman pantheon.

They were persecuted, and many of them died, obstinately refusing to renounce Christ. Aurelius considered this foolish.

Isn’t that awesome?

“While I live, I shall defeat you; and if you kill me, in my death I shall defeat you all the more.”

So answered Felicitas, a believing widow, to the Roman prefect who was threatening her. Her case ended up before Marcus Aurelius, who ordered that she and her seven sons be put to death in different sections of the city; perhaps, as surmised by Gonzalez, to appease various gods.