Friendly Freethinker: Power and Privilege, but not Persecution, in our Pluralistic Culture

There’s an old saying: “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

Is there any religious group that has not experienced some form of persecution? Throughout the history of faith traditions, there have been periods of time when one or more groups of believers comes under attack for their chosen beliefs. It may be true that most attacks on any religious group have come from within the group itself. What I mean is when a minority of believers have spun off from the main “orthodox” faith, they become “heretics,” opening themselves to mistreatment. So, perhaps most persecution has concerned fractures and factions within “The True Faith.” In other words, insiders versus outsiders (infidels). When religious powers are aligned with civil powers, the crack-down on outsiders can be severe.

A report was just released by the White House on “anti-Christian bias.” I scanned over the 200-page report enough to notice this very sectarian and partisan task force believes the president is “restoring religious liberty”—first and foremost for those represented on the committee. They believe the previous administration “devastated the lives of many Christian Americans.” The opening summary of the report reveals their not-so-hidden “bias”: “Our nation’s origin and system of government bear the imprint of a Christian worldview and ethic.” The rest of the document proceeds to present grievances against the previous administration, that “zealously” assaulted “religious rights.” The report’s slanted views clearly defend the most conservative Christians with little concern for any other Christians who may see no cause for alarm. Most Christians enjoy their freedom of faith alongside people of many faiths and those who choose no religion. No doubt the vast majority of Americans see no persecution or discrimination against traditional Christianity.

It seems this government-sponsored report is a long complaint by a fragile fragment of Christians who feel hurt because they no longer receive special treatment. Unhappy they have to follow laws and rules everyone else has to follow (like non-discrimination), they pound the table and stomp their feet, demanding preference, privilege and an exceptional position in the nation.

Having stated these critiques of the report, I should make clear: IF any of the actions in the document are accurately citing unfair treatment of a Christian or group of Christians, I certainly agree those wrongs should be corrected. And … in each case I read about, appropriate action was taken to apologize or correct the situation.

This leaves me wondering: aren’t there discriminatory acts against other faith groups or individuals? Are these reported and addressed? Or, is it only a particular part of the Christian religion that matters?

In response to the report of the task force, one group of Christian educators stated, “This is not about defending religious freedom, it’s about reframing power as persecution.” They ask, “Who counts as Christian?” (The Convocation, May 2, 2026).

As defined by the dictionary, persecution refers to: “hostility and ill-treatment, especially on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation or political beliefs.” It can mean “annoyance or harassment.” Other terms for persecution include: “oppression, victimization, mistreatment, abuse, discrimination … torment, torture” and even badgering or bullying. How many of us have endured these actions? To what extent? Was it really serious persecution, or merely “annoyance”? Who plays the victim in many of these “religious freedom” cases?

When I was studying the Bible, Church History and Greek in college and seminary, I learned how early Christians suffered serious persecution. They were being “pursued” for their beliefs (in Greek: diogmos, is usually translated as “persecution.” This word was used in the sense of “the hunt to bring someone down like an animal”). Where do we see this hunt in our world? In some other countries, sure, but here in America?

According to Wikipedia, “Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group due to their religious affiliation … Indeed, in many countries of the world today, religious persecution is a Human Rights problem.”

That seems the fundamental issue to address: Human Rights. The right to practice one’s belief is protected, but how can we better protect vulnerable minorities, not only the privileged? And it should be noted that in many areas of the world the non-religious are actively persecuted and often prosecuted, even jailed or executed, for not believing what the Powerfully Pious believe. Fair inclusion of secular citizens in the public square is essential to pluralism, and it’s not an “attack” on faith.

I would hope that if any of us were aware of actual persecution, we would speak out. Jews, Muslims and others experience some form of discrimination much more serious than a Christian losing special privileges.

Sometimes there’s just no nail to hammer.

Chris Highland

2026

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Chris Highland was a minister and chaplain for many years. He is a writer and teacher in Asheville, NC. www.chighland.com, (chris.highland@gmail.com)