[MuttTheHoople]

Actually, ancient Rome was a polyglot of gods, from the traditional Roman gods (developed from the Greek Gods) to Mithraism, to whatever god floated a Roman's boat. The Rome Government didn't care who you worshipped, as long as you also worshipped the Roman gods every once in a while.

Early Christians refused to do this. They were accused of being "atheists", because they didn't at least acknowledge the official Roman gods. The persecutions were more severe than what many anti-Christian apologists claim they were, but the intensity of the persecution varied from Emperor to Emperor, and with the various Governors of the provinces.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

The Christians ignored the Roman gods but got into trouble because they refused to offer sacrifices to “god Caesar”.

The same as we today are condemned because we refuse to offer sacrifices to “god Obama”.