Martyr
A martyr is an individual who suffers or dies for their religious beliefs or principles, with interpretations of martyrdom varying significantly across different faiths. Historically, the term originated from the Greek word "martus," meaning "witness," and was first applied to early Christians who faced persecution for their faith. Notably, St. Stephen is recognized as the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for his beliefs. In Christianity, martyrdom often represents a passive acceptance of death due to unwavering faith, while in Islam, it can also signify an active pursuit of martyrdom in the context of fighting for one's faith. The Islamic tradition views those who die in defense of their beliefs, as well as those who die from natural causes or during childbirth, as martyrs. Both religions have a historical context of conflict stemming from the conviction that their respective faiths are the true path, leading to various episodes of violence, including the Crusades. Despite the historical and theological differences, the concept of martyrdom continues to resonate, with individuals still facing persecution for their beliefs in modern times across many religions.
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Martyr
A martyr is a person who suffers and/or dies for his or her religious beliefs. However, different faiths have different ideas about what a martyr is and have different views on martyrdom in general. While the concept is primarily religious in nature, the term martyr is sometimes applied to a person who is persecuted or killed because of his or her staunch support for another principle or cause, such as human rights.
Background
While it is likely that people have been dying for their religious beliefs for as long as humans have practiced religion, the use of the word martyr to describe such a person began in the first century CE. The term was derived from the Greek word martus, meaning "witness," as in someone who has firsthand knowledge of something because he or she personally observed it. Beginning in the first century, the word was applied to people who died for their faith because their behavior bore witness to the strength of their beliefs. The first Christian martyr is generally considered to be St. Stephen, who, according to the New Testament Book of Acts, was stoned to death for professing his faith in Jesus (Acts 6:8–8:3).
In the early days of Christianity, countless men, women, and even children were put to death for their beliefs. Some were crucified, like Christ, and others were killed using various gruesome methods. In many cases, these people were put to death because those in power held opposing beliefs. For instance, the Romans worshiped many gods and believed their emperor should be considered a god. It was illegal to hold other beliefs. People who practiced Christianity were told to renounce their beliefs; if they refused, they were tortured or killed.
Most early Christians did not seek to become martyrs. They became martyrs because they steadfastly refused to denounce their faith, and they accepted death as a consequence of that refusal. Others seemed to seek martyrdom as a way of reaching heaven. They saw a horrible, bloody death at the hands of authorities as a way of following in the steps of Jesus and his crucifixion. Whether martyrs quietly accepted their death or actively sought it, their demise often proved their unshakeable devotion to Christianity to those who witnessed or heard of their deaths.
Although the practice of seeking martyrdom ceased during the first few centuries after Christianity was established, many Christians have been martyred through the ages up to and including the twenty-first century. These people often served as missionaries or lived in places that were intolerant to Christianity.
Overview
While the word martyr originally referred to Christians who suffered or died for their faith, other religions are also associated with martyrdom. The term martyr did not exist in pre-Christian times, but there are many accounts of Jewish martyrs in the Hebrew Bible. There are also several accounts of God protecting people from martyrdom, including Daniel, who was thrown into the lions' den (Daniel: 6), and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were saved from being burned to death after they refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel: 3). The Sikh faith in India also includes the concept of dying rather than renouncing one's faith.
Other than Christianity, martyrdom is most commonly associated with Islam. However, there are some fundamental differences in how the two traditions view martyrdom. In most cases, Christian martyrdom is a passive act; the person does not seek death, but he or she is compelled to accept it as a consequence of remaining true to his or her faith. In the Islamic tradition, martyrdom is more commonly bestowed on those who are fighting for the faith. These holy warriors, or jihadists, often seek opportunities to fight in ways that could bring about their death because they believe this type of death leads to greater rewards in the afterlife. This is the belief adopted by extremists who become suicide attackers and claim association with the Muslim faith. Extremists believe their actions will be rewarded and that their families will share in these rewards.
In Islam, anyone who dies in obedience of Allah, or God, is considered a martyr. The first Muslim martyr was Sumayyah bint Khayyat, a slave woman who was stabbed to death because she was practicing Islam. Muslims also believe that there are many other ways to achieve martyrdom, including dying from cancer, stomach ailments, the plague, or in defense of life or property. Muslims who die by fire or in a collapsing building and women who die during pregnancy or childbirth are also considered martyrs.
Both Christianity and Islam include directives from God to go forth and spread the message shared by God and the prophets and to convert people to the faith. These directives and the fact that each religion believes their god is the one true god has led to conflicts over the centuries. During medieval times, various popes waged a number of holy crusades against groups who espoused viewpoints that they felt were un-Christian. These groups included Muslims, and both sides saw death on the battlefield as a form of martyrdom.
The conflict between the Christian and Islam ideologies continues into present times, with some Muslim extremists interpreting the directives to expand the faith as a reason to kill unbelievers, or infidels, if they will not convert. However, Muslims are also still regularly persecuted for their beliefs, as are Christians and people of various religious traditions around the world.
Bibliography
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