They're still operating on that whole mythical idea of Christians being "persecuted" as a part of their history, which is a load of bull. Christians have never been persecuted for being Christians. When people came after them, it was for their behavior, not their religion.

The Romans had great respect for religion and encouraged people to be pious. They disliked the Christians because they were uncivil, as in disruptive and disrespectful of the law and social order. (And all that torturing and death? A myth, mostly. The Romans didn't like torturing anybody. They much preferred that people behave themselves and be polite.) The Puritan sects did not leave Europe for America because of a lack of "freedom"; it was because nobody could stand their snotty scolding and nagging ways, so they kept getting run out of town wherever they went. The Muslims have historically been extremely tolerant and open as far as other people's religions go, but when the barbarian Christians (who were living in drafty stone piles and painting themselves blue when the Muslims were at the peak of philosophical and scientific culture) came over on their friggin' crusades and started slaughtering everyone, naturally they got rather resentful and fought back.

Everywhere Christians have gone, they've fucked things up for themselves and then cried "persecution!" when people have had the temerity to not like them much. Bunch of bullies, when you get down to it: happy to sneer at others and beat up anybody they think is smaller than them, but then they whine and cry when they get knocked on their asses. *eyeroll*