Just because they didn't have a word for it doesn't mean that they didn't know how to do it. According to the movies, they knew what a forked tongue was...……..Just saying.
As I see it, the proliferation of religions are due to one thing and one thing only. Well two things if you count greed. The "leaders" are in it for a buck but the followers are in it for validation. Everyone wants someone to condone their way of living. For believers, they want a religious figure who tells them they can live their life the way they want and still get into Heaven. For Christians to get into Heaven they must be forgiven. Now take homosexuals in the church. The Bible reads, "For a man to lie with a man as a woman is an abomination." Seems pretty clear to me. I would surmise that something that is called an abomination would most definitely be a sin. Sins can be forgiven but only if you are earnest in your asking. That means that you truthfully no longer intending to sin and if they don't intend to change their ways then they are not truly forgiven. The alphabets claim that God loves everyone and he made everyone perfect so he loves them even if they continue to sin and he does, but they are not going to Heaven. I believe the original Christian tenant was to love the sinner, hate the sin. If the Church doesn't agree with them then they just start their own church. Now they have so many denominations that even allow alphabet pastors. A lot of people have been led astray because of this. True Christians understand they have to obey God, God doesn't obey them. As to the secular, atheist, non-believers, etc., the validators for them are their teachers, politicians, and scientists who tell them that there is no God. But without God, does anything we do matter?
About speaking up. After the "Enlightenment" and over the years Christianity has become the real religion of peace (not islam as they claim) and Christians strive to live a Christ like life. Some of the qualities they espouse are love, understanding, humility, and turning the other cheek. This has led to a lot of "suffering in silence" as evil has gained ground by leaps and bounds because they wanted to be loving Christians. Christians have forgotten that Jesus turned over tables and ran shysters out of the temple.
As far as masks, that makes sense but you know what else that is very popular today that represents slavery?
Tattoos. In biblical times tattoos were the mark of a slave and people these days do it willingly.
This girl I know is an avid Anti-Trumper and she asked me if I watched Obama's speech last night and proceeded to tell me how she "nailed it". I told her, "I didn't watch Michael's speech and heard it was not good at all." She was like, what? I asked, "You do know that Michelle is a man, right?" She said, "But Michelle is a woman. She has kids." I informed her that those are not her kids and they were borrowed for political appearance. She still wanted to argue but you could see the look of "what if?" on her face.