It seems to me that at this point you might want to taboo “persecute/persecution” and explain what is meant by it.
People are averse to losses, both material and in status. Both the absolute and relative prestige and status of Christians and Christianity have declined precipitously in the United States in the past half-century. The absolute and relative status of both atheists and Muslims has increased markedly over the same period, but is still relatively low. Whose ox is being gored depends on whether you think the shift from Christianity occupying a privileged position to having (something closer to) parity of status is a good thing or a bad thing.
It seems to me that at this point you might want to taboo “persecute/persecution” and explain what is meant by it.
People are averse to losses, both material and in status. Both the absolute and relative prestige and status of Christians and Christianity have declined precipitously in the United States in the past half-century. The absolute and relative status of both atheists and Muslims has increased markedly over the same period, but is still relatively low. Whose ox is being gored depends on whether you think the shift from Christianity occupying a privileged position to having (something closer to) parity of status is a good thing or a bad thing.