On the Christian Religion

...let these things said briefly for the present suffice, for we hasten to the mystery of the Christian religion.

Every religion has something of the good, provided it directs one to God Himself, the creator of all; the Christian religion is sincere. Chapter IV.

Nothing displeases God more than to be scorned; nothing pleases Him more than to be worshipped. He punishes those who are transgressors of divine laws in some part more lightly, but those who rebel—on account of their ingratitude, malignancy, and pride—He strikes from His empire with lightning. Therefore, divine providence does not permit there to be at any time any region of the world entirely lacking in all religion, although He does permit various rites of adoration to be observed in various places and times. Perhaps this variety, through God’s ordering, creates a certain wonderful beauty in the universe; it is of greater concern to the supreme King to be honored in truth than to be honored by these or those gestures. King Alexander was honored in as many ways as there were peoples he ruled, whether he himself traveled to them or sent emissaries. And the whole of that which was done for his glory, he commended in a certain way, though he held one thing more acceptable than another; and the same must be judged concerning the King of the world. He prefers to be worshipped in any way, even if clumsily or merely humanly, than to be worshipped in no way through pride. Indeed, He corrects incontinent men—yet those who are in a way subjects—as a father, or at least afflicts them less, but the impious and the ungrateful, who are entirely and willfully rebellious, He exterminates and torments as an enemy. Although God utterly rejects no human worship undertaken for His sake, as He does voluntary impiety, yet which one does He approve of above all, or rather, exclusively? God is in Himself the supreme good, the truth of things, the light and favor of minds. Therefore, those who, before all others—indeed, they alone—sincerely worship God, are those who...