On the difference between persecution and the loss of privileged status

Robert Cargill, professor of classics and religious studies at the University of Iowa, posted a blog on “The Difference between Persecution and Being Corrected“, or perhaps more accurately, the “difference between persecution and the loss of privileged status.” A pie chart of U.S.A. religious breakdown effectively reveals Cargill’s frustration. One commenter asked, “All very true what you said but I am curious, what prompted you to post this?” to which Cargill replied, “Constant, constant claims of religious persecution from folks in a white, middle class majority angry about not being able to impose Evangelical beliefs on public school kids.”

Now, this post is not about whether Cargill has spoken the truth or has presented a skewed version of American culture. I do, however, believe that what he said here is worth thinking about. What do you think? Are Christians persecuted and oppressed in North America? Which Christian claims does Cargill think have been corrected, debunked, and demonstrated to be untrue?

There is a difference between persecution and the loss of privileged status.

There is a difference between persecution and being corrected of an error.

There is a difference between persecution and being wrong.

Demonstrating that a claim is false and suggesting an ulterior motive for the debunked claim is not a “personal attack”. It is the scientific method.

Just because you didn’t get what you want doesn’t mean that you are “persecuted”. It means you can’t have everything.

Just because facts and evidence demonstrated your claim to be untrue doesn’t mean that you are “persecuted”. It just means you were wrong.