A new academic volume examining theological and missionary aspects of religious persecution has been published as the third installment of the Christian Pressure Series. It was published jointly by the International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF) and the Cultural Science Publications. (VKW), Religious Persecution: A perspective from theology and mythology is now available for free download using the print version that follows September 1st.
Edited by Professors Robert Lillearsen and Christophe Saur, the anthology brings together contributions from academics representing nine countries. The essays address persecution through biblical studies, church history, systematic and practical theology, mythology, and legal scholarships, offering what the editors call “a rich array of primarily original research findings.”
The editors construct persecution not merely a sociopolitical challenge, but as a deeply spiritual, church reality that has shaped Christian identity and mission for centuries. “Theology and mission have not developed in a vacuum. They are built into the living experiences of believers, including those who suffer from faith,” the book’s introduction states. This collection is for students, pastors, missionaries, and scholars seeking subtle involvement with persecution in both historical and contemporary contexts.
This volume is the direct result of the Religious Freedom and Religious Persecution Research Project launched in 2019 by Fjellhaug International University College. This initiative was designed to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between theologians, mythology and related experts. Three research symposiums were held in 2021, 2023 and 2025. This served as the main source of information for many chapters in the book.
In the opening section of definitions, Sauer, a German persecution research expert, and South African legal scholar Werner Nel, provide an extensive investigation into how persecution is defined in legal, sociological and theological contexts. They advocate for the reflexive and accurate use of the term, providing their own sociological definitions along with the scales and spectra adopted by NGOs and Christian institutions.
Bible studies include Norwegian Old Testament scholar Haakon Sunde Pedersen exploring enthusiasm and violence in Finehas, Elijah and Jeff’s figures, and Belgian scholar Gerd W. Lorraine’s investigation into Maccaby’s resistance to Antiochus IV epipanes. While German Swiss scholar Daniel Lotrisberger analyzes the New Testament language of persecution, German New Testament scholar Christophe Stensch identifies both patterns of conflict and cooperation in the book of conduct. Norwegian scholar Haakon Leit examines Paul’s views on suffering in idyllic letters and challenges a reading that underestimates its apocalyptic significance.
Historical and systematic theology studies include the investigation into Christian responses to the ancient persecution of Pietism by German church historian Klaus Wetzel, including Danish scholar Finn AA. Loan’s account of the reform movement within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and Sauer’s review of the 2009 Bad Ulak Statement on Suffering and Martism. Iranian-born scholar Sarah Afshali uses Holy Saturday’s epiphalo to develop theology of persecution, and Czech scholars Vara Mirachkova and Kamilla Vevelkova examine theological reasons to flee persecution.
The contributions of practical theology address pastoral care and congregation dynamics in persecuted contexts. Danish scholar Henrik Nyman Eriksen outlines the pastoral, leadership and prophetic role of pastors in supporting Christian converts facing repatriation to the majority of Muslim countries. Lillearsen contributes to the study of the church’s “courageous followers” under pressure, and Norwegian scholar Tonzhe Belibi analyzes how the Norwegian Sunday School curriculum portrays persecution. Kkåre Kirkholm evaluates how Norwegian Lutheran preachers deal with topics in the pulpit.
The chapter on Mythology and Religious Studies explores how persecution intersects conversion, contextualization, and inter-pagan dynamics. German scholar Joel Hofer examines the relationship between conversion to Christianity and persecution. Meiken Buchholz discusses the “sin” of religion in China. Norwegian scholar Frank Al Torren examines the experiences of tolerance minorities in Tunisia. And American scholar James Brutema analyses his perceptions of the Protestant movement in Türkiye.
In the final section of applied theology, Afshali critically reflects how Christian gatherings frame persecution and warn that they will reduce it to emotional appeal. American mythology physician and Anglican priest Duane A. Miller offers Job’s theological and pastoral reading as a resource for persecuted believers.
The editors note that the book’s thematic structure moves from conceptual foundations to applied theology, aiming to bridge academic research and practical ministry. “Our motivation has been shaped by our desire to provide a theological and missionary perspective that speaks to the (real) reality of persecution, the persecution written by Lillearsen and Sauer. “In the end, this book is written to serve Christians who are under pressure on their faith. We hope it will inspire, encourage and equip them.”
The Pressure Under Pressure series, launched with a fruitful minority (2018) compiled by Bernhard Leitma on Christian Witnesses in Islamic Contexts, was followed by Kay Bascom’s Overcome (2021) on God’s Rescue through the Ethiopian Revolution.
Religious Persecution: A perspective from theology and mythology can be downloaded here.
