The main difficulty in writing about Christianity is that there are no Christians.
Context: Bernard Shaw, as the author, provocatively opens his preface by stating that true followers of Christ's original, radical teachings are virtually nonexistent, thus distinguishing the historical Jesus from what is commonly practiced and called Christianity.
The first condition of a man's salvation is that he should not be a gentleman.
Context: Shaw argues that the radical self-effacement and egalitarianism demanded by Christ's teachings are fundamentally incompatible with the conventional, class-based ideals of a 'gentleman' in society, who often prioritize status over spiritual principles.
Jesus was a Communist, in the modern sense of the word.
Context: Shaw boldly interprets Jesus's teachings on wealth, poverty, and communal living as directly aligned with socialist and communist ideals, portraying him as a revolutionary economic and social reformer rather than just a spiritual leader.
The true Christianity, which means the Christianity of Christ, is not a dogma, but a life.
Context: Shaw distinguishes between institutionalized religion and the genuine message of Jesus, asserting that authentic Christianity is not a static set of beliefs or rituals but a dynamic way of living characterized by active ethical and social commitment.
If you are to be a Christian, you must sell all that you have and give to the poor.
Context: Shaw frequently reiterates Christ's radical demands regarding wealth and possessions to highlight the profound discrepancy between these original teachings and the practices of self-proclaimed Christians and modern society's economic systems.
We have not only not adopted Christianity, but we have not even heard of it.
Context: Echoing his opening statement, Shaw argues that the true revolutionary and anti-establishment message of Jesus has been so thoroughly obscured by conventional churches and societal adaptations that it remains largely unknown to most people.
The Churches must, by the law of their own being, stand for the status quo.
Context: Shaw critiques established religious institutions, asserting that their inherent need for stability and survival inevitably leads them to align with existing power structures and social norms, rather than challenging them as Christ did.
The greatest man that ever lived, Jesus Christ, was the first man to perceive that if you treat a man as if he were a beast, he will be a beast.
Context: Shaw praises Jesus for his profound insight into human nature, emphasizing that degrading or dehumanizing treatment inevitably diminishes individuals, and conversely, valuing them elevates their potential and behavior.
All institutions have a tendency to become a nuisance if they are allowed to stand.
Context: Shaw applies a broader critical lens, suggesting that any established organization, including religious ones, risks losing its original purpose and becoming an impediment to progress if not continually re-evaluated and reformed to serve its true function.
A man who says that he has ceased to believe in God means by that that he has ceased to believe in a certain childish image of God, and has not yet got rid of it.
Context: Shaw addresses the nature of belief and doubt, suggesting that many who declare themselves atheists are rejecting a simplistic, anthropomorphic concept of God rather than a deeper, more philosophical or spiritual reality, which they may yet discover.