It has served us well, this myth of Christ.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that the story of Christ, whether true or not, has benefitted society.
Pope Leo X's quote reflects on the role of the figure of Christ as a pivotal myth in shaping cultural and moral frameworks throughout history. It implies that religious narratives, regardless of their factual basis, can provide social cohesion, ethical guidance, and a sense of purpose to many individuals and communities, making their impact undeniably profound and beneficial to civilization.
In practice
In a discussion about the impact of religion on society, one could say, 'As Pope Leo X noted, it has served us well, this myth of Christ.'
Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's greatest source of joy. And with death as his greatest source of anxiety. Over all history it has oppressed nearly all people in one of two ways: either it has been abundant and very unreliable, or reliable and very scarce.
Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.
If the church marries herself to the spirit of the times, she will find herself a widow in the next generation.
Can anyone be a father without beginning to be one? Yes, one who did not begin his existence. What begins to exist begins to be a father - God the Father did not begin at all. He is Father in the true sense, because He is not a son as well. Just as the Son is son in the true sense, because He is not a father as well. In our case, the word 'father' cannot be truly appropriate, because we must be fathers and sons.
Truth had run through my fingers. Every drop had escaped.
All general judgments are loose and imperfect
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.