Another book that we bought today is John Foxe's Book of Martyrs. John Foxe (1517-1587) was a Puritan clergyman best known for writing the book in question. He focusses on the English Protestant martyrs starting in the 14th century.
My interest in the martyrs stem from the fact in today's world martyrdom is again prevalent. These are commonly referred to as suicide bombers, and there are many ways in which todays "martyrs" differ from those in past ages. Still, it may be interesting to see if there are any similarities.
Before starting my reading, I must state that I will be looking for parallels in today's events. Was the Roman Empire born in religious freedom as was the U.S.A? What led to the intollerance for differing ideas? How much of martyrdom was Christian vs. Christian? What lessons can we draw from the ancient world? Can this situation be avoided?
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