Why I Am Not a Christian

you. That plays a very profound part in influencing people’s desire for a belief in God.

THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST

I now want to say a few words upon a topic which I often think is not quite sufficiently dealt with by RationalistsThinkers who base their opinions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response., and that is the question of whether Christ was the best and the wisest of men. It is generally taken for granted that we should all agree that that was so. I do not myself. I think there are a good many points upon which I agree with Christ a great deal more than the professing Christians do. I do not know that I could go with Him all the way, but I could go with Him much further than most professing Christians can.

You will remember that He said: “Resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” That is not a new precept or a new principle. It was used by Lao-TseAncient Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism. and Buddha some 500 or 600 years before Christ, but it is not a principle which, as a matter of fact, Christians accept. I have no doubt that the present Prime Minister, for instance, is a most sincere Christian, but I should not advise any of you to go and smite him on one cheek. I think you might find that he thought this text was intended in a figurative sense.

Then there is another point which I consider is excellent. You will remember that Christ said: “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” That principle, I do not think you would find, was popular in the law courts of Christian countries. I have known in my time quite a number of Judges who were very earnest Christians, and