Final answer:
During the time of Roman leaders like Decius and Diocletian, religious pluralism was seen as a challenge to political unity. Persecution of Christians increased as they refused to participate in the state cults honoring Roman gods, resulting in official persecutions by the Roman Empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the time of Roman leaders like Decius and Diocletian, religious pluralism was seen as a challenge to political unity. Christians refused to participate in the state cults that honored the Roman gods, which was interpreted as treason by Roman officials. This led to increased persecution of Christians, reaching its height under Emperor Diocletian in 303. The Roman Empire undertook official persecutions to restore the primacy of ancient pagan religious worship and practice throughout the empire