Did Emperor Decius Target Christians?

In the mid-3rd century CE, Emperor Decius ordered that everyone in the Roman Empire is to offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods. This caused a controversy among Christian communities as bunches of Christians refused to sacrifice and ended up being jailed, tortured, or executed. But was this edict specifically an anti-Christian decree? Or did Decius inadvertently stumble into a theological controversy? Patreon: www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfastTwitter: @andrewmarkhenryFacebook: www.facebook.com/religionforbreakfastBlog: www.religionforbreakfast.comMusic: Kevin MacLeod, www.incompetech.comAnimation: EC Henry, www.echenry.comSpecial Thanks to our patrons on Patreon!:Brian B.John M.Alex B.Cain D.MannyMark H.Dan D.Andrew S.WilsonPhoto Attributions:Decius: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decius#/media/File:Emperor_Traianus_Decius_(Mary_Harrsch).jpgDiocletian:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian#/media/File:Istanbul_-_Museo_archeol._-_Diocleziano_(284-305_d.C.)_-_Foto_G._Dall%27Orto_28-5-2006.jpgTheadelphia Libellus: http://www.luther.edu/archives/research/digital-collections/papyrus/images/Libation Vessel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libation#/media/File:Omphalos_pushkin.jpgLibating Priest statue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libation#/media/File:RMW_-_Opfernder_Togatus.jpg

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