There was a time

“There was a time when Christians generally accepted, or even vigorously advocated:

the persecution of heretics,

the subordination of women,

the practice of religious intolerance,

the divine right of kings against democratic freedoms,

the institution of slavery,

indifference about cruelty to animals,

the suppression of civil rights,

white supremacy,

racism,

religious exclusivism,

opposition to scientific progress,

the burning of witches,

and the state’s enforcement of the Christian religion on the whole of society.

But over and against religious authority, the God-given spirit of truth that resides inside us knew that these attitudes and practices were not acceptable, even if they were justified in name of God or Jesus or the Bible. The church is not infallible and it often stands in direct opposition to the truth, rather than dispensers of it.”

- Jim Palmer, Notes From (over) The Edge