Where McDowell agrees with Candida Moss: many Christians overstate early persecution. There wasn't official statewide persecution until 3rd-4th centuries. Moss correctly notes that many martyrdom accounts are exaggerated. But she takes the correction too far by dismissing all early persecution evidence.

Moss's book "The Myth of Persecution" correctly identifies Christian overstatement of persecution. In many Christians' minds, Pentecost through Constantine was nonstop Roman murder of Christians — not accurate. Scholars already knew this, but the correction hadn't reached lay level. Moss distinguishes persecution (singled out for beliefs) from prosecution (beliefs violating state laws). McDowell agrees the distinction exists but notes the practical result was the same.