Beginning with Constantine, Christianity triumphed on the level of the state and soon began to cloak with authority persecutions similar to those in which the early Christians were victims. Christianity suffered persecution when it was weak and became the persecutor as soon as it gained strength.[But] the Gospel revelation is a critique of violent religion. God is not violent. The true God has nothing to do with violence. Children recognize the difference between Christianity and the religions of violence, because violence makes them afraid and Jesus does not make them afraid—but the wise and clever cannot see the difference. Christ resurrection can only really triumph in the ruins of all religions of violence based in collective murder. —Rene Girard, The Scapegoat
