I hope no one faces the kind of persecution Nichiren or others since him have faced. But I do wonder how many would be standing after facing such hardships. There are all sorts of ways our faith may be challenged that might be more common. Persecution or persuasion or pressure from family or loved ones frequently happens. Interference caused by work or other obligations often causes people to give up their faith and practice, thinking they will pick it back up when things get easy. But a practice of convenience hardly qualifies as faith with no fear or upholding at the cost of one’s life.