How does the persecution of Christians by non-Christians compare with the persecution of non-Christians by Christians during the Dark ages?

Answer 1

By far, most of those persecuted or killed by Christians were . . . Christians! Most people asking and answering this question are ignorant that there are distinctions among people who call themselves Christians. To answer this question properly one must understand that there are Catholics and there are Protestants, and both call themselves Christian. Most of those killed by Catholics after the Reformation were Protestant Christians. And a few number of people--a handful, really, in total history--have been killed or persecuted by Protestants--the fewest number compared to any group. So the very common rebuttal to the statement that Islamic terrorists are killing people in a religious fervor, or that many millions were killed by communists, "Christians killed a lot, too, in the Dark Ages!" is a non-sequator.

Answer 2

The Dark Ages began in the fifth century, after Christianity had become the official state religion of the Roman Empire and after the worship of pagan gods was prohibited. Pagans had to go underground in most parts of the Empire, and were in no position to persecute the Christians. So the only officially tolerated non-Christians were the Jews, and they also were in no position to persecute the Christians.

Looking at an earlier period, outright persecution of Christians during the four centuries before Emperor Constantine seems to have lasted about 12 years in total, compared to centuries of persecution of non-Christians by the Christians themselves.