The Four Gospels were unknown to the early Christian Fathers. Justin Martyr, the most eminent of the early fathers, wrote about the middle of the second century. His writings in proof of the divinity of Christ demanded the use of these gospels, had they existed in his time. He makes more than 300 quotations from the books of the Old Testament, and nearly one hundred from the Apocryphal books of the New Testament; but none from the four Gospels. … The very names of the Evangelists, Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, are never mentioned by him (Justin) – do not occur once in all his writings. [Tim C. Leedom, The Book Your Church Doesn’t Want You to Read]
The only question for me is whether or not the good that comes out of Christianity exceeds the evil that emanates therefrom. It’s an open question. In one ear is the evangelist telling me to repent, who wants to enslave women, and imagines that life sucks so much that we have to pretend that something better awaits us after we die. Oh yeah – give him money too. He’s broke.
In the other ear speaks the kind and caring minister who affects the lives of thousands of people, nudges instead of judges – not towards blind faith in some image hanging in misery on a cross, but rather towards kindness and understanding and acceptance of life for all its beauty and pain.
Life is not simple. There are good people and bad people. Steven Weinberg said “with or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil — that takes religion.” I think it’s more than that. The power of religion comes from two directions: Leaders above use it to enhance and protect their power and wealth, while ministers below use it to make our lives better.
Piece of Mindful 