Antioch’s Jesus followers seemed to be flouting the most distinctive laws of Judaism. ibid.
The conflict over table fellowship exposed a deep rift between the visions of Paul and James. ibid.
The crisis fractured Paul’s hope for a single Jesus movement. ibid.
It was Paul’s communities that would evolve into the church we know today. ibid.
Humour about Christianity ranges from gentle mockery, though sharply critical, to the downright hurtful. Ann Widdecombe, Are You Having a Laugh? Comedy & Christianity, BBC 2013
Comedy can be a window into the state of our society. ibid.
Christianity is now being subject to a level of mockery that some find disturbing. ibid.
The mocking of Jesus Christ is deeply hurtful. ibid.
Upon the release of The Life of Brian thousands protested. ibid.
The change isn’t accidental and it isn’t the product of ignorance, it is deliberate, and it sets out to vilify and to ridicule Christianity and Christian belief. ibid.
At its best, comedy can be provocative, truthful and can offer a check and balance for all of us. ibid.
I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. Mahatma Gandhi
I have a great mind to believe in Christianity for the mere pleasure of fancying I may be damned. Lord Byron
Since Jimmy Carter, religious fundamentalists play a major role in elections. He was the first president who made a point of exhibiting himself as a born again Christian. That sparked a little light in the minds of political campaign managers: Pretend to be a religious fanatic and you can pick up a third of the vote right away. Nobody asked whether Lyndon Johnson went to church every day. Bill Clinton is probably about as religious as I am, meaning zero, but his managers made a point of making sure that every Sunday morning he was in the Baptist church singing hymns. Noam Chomsky
Christianity had been captured by the Roman Empire in the fourth century and changed from the religion of the persecuted to the religion of the persecutors. Noam Chomsky, lecture MIT December 2009, ‘History of US Rule in Latin America’
At this time of year it’s easy to forget the true meaning of Christianity – the lies, the corruption, the abuse. Banksy
Judaism has the terrible tendency to lead to Christianity. Voltaire
Of all religions, Christianity ought doubtless to inspire the most toleration, although hitherto the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men. Voltaire, Toleration
You will notice that in all disputes between Christians since the birth of the Church, Rome has always favoured the doctrine which most completely subjugated the human mind and annihilated reason. Voltaire
[Christianity] is assuredly the most ridiculous, the most absurd and the most bloody religion which has ever infected this world. Your Majesty will do the human race an eternal service by extirpating this infamous superstition, I do not say among the rabble, who are not worthy of being enlightened and who are apt for every yoke; I say among honest people, among men who think, among those who wish to think ... My one regret in dying is that I cannot aid you in this noble enterprise, the finest and most respectable which the human mind can point out. Voltaire, Letters of Voltaire and Frederick the Great