Why was Trajan opposed to actively hunting out Christians?

Answer 1

Trajan was opposed to actively hunting out Christians because he believed that such actions could lead to unnecessary unrest and social instability within the Empire. His policy, as outlined in his correspondence with Pliny the Younger, emphasized the importance of not seeking out Christians but responding to accusations and trials as they arose. This pragmatic approach aimed to maintain order while allowing the Empire to avoid the negative consequences of widespread persecution. Additionally, Trajan viewed the Christians' refusal to worship the Roman gods as a private matter, not warranting active state intervention unless their actions threatened public peace.