“Organised Christianity came into existence, and exists, to preserve a treasure, a command to be executed, a promise to be repeated, a mission to be fulfilled. This treasure belongs to the past, present, and future; it is potential, yet active; an object of contemplation, yet the inspiration of right conduct. An unfathomable mystery, it must be related to all knowledge. And in their endeavours to guard and transmit their trust, its guardians have raised the most perplexing issues. They have caused ensless destruction of life in the name of unicersal peace. They have built up the most realistic of political systems in the effort to establisha kingdom not of this world. In the exploration of the recesses of the soul, they have developed the arts and sciences, and constructed theories of the universe. And, in their desire to satisfy the deepest needs of mankind, they have raised up against themselves the visions, prophecies, and extravagances of exitable and obstinate men., and the dislike of many sensible men.
The treasure which has caused all this activity was cast into the world with a few simple sentenecs. ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and thy neighbor as thyself. What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and loose his own soul?’ And again, ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. No one cometh to the Father, save by Me. Take, eat; this is my body.’ And again, ‘Go and preach the kingdom of God. Feed my sheep. Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. I have come not to bring peace, but a sword.’” [1] – Maurice Powicke
Hvordan piller man et representativt citat ud af en bog på 1175 sider? Svaret er at det gør man ikke! I stedet vælger man det citat som forfatteren selv har valgt at sætte som motto for sin A History of Christianity – The First Three Thousand Years. Diarmaid MacCullochs bog anbefales varmt – trods de svagheder der altid vil være med en bog der spænder så vidt på så lidt plads – som en glimrende introduktion til emnet…
_______________- - Diarmaid MacCulloch: A History of Christianity. London 2010. [↩]