incredulities old & new

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Nov 30, 2006

Our Lord never spoke hyperbolically, although, indeed, that is the supposition on which many unconsciously interpret his words, in order to be able to persuade themselves that they believe them.

That's the Scottish author George MacDonald, writing in 1867. By way of hammering a stake in the turf to measure the change in religious and cultural attitudes over a century and a half, it's interesting to note that MacDonald was here out to defend the teaching "It is possible to love our neighbour as ourselves."