In Persia did the people have religious freedom?

Answer 1

By. Alexander Orall Amoah, Ghana

Yes. It was under the rule of the Persian King Artaxerxis that a decree was give to Ezra for the rebuilding of Jerusalem which was a religious symbol at the time. This decree was sign during the era of Darius and Cyriu, all kings of Medo-Persia. in Ezra chapter 1:1-5 we note that:

1: Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

2: Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

3: Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

Also in 6:1-3

1: Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

2: And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:

3: In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;

If there were no religious freedom such opportunity would not have been given to the Israelites to go back and rebuild Jerusalem. Besides, Cyrus was not a Jew yet He was interested in building a temple for God.