Justin was an inexhaustible philosopher from the 100s who found himself so disaffected by the Greek masters (Pythagoras, Zeno, Plato) and by the worship (what Butler, of course, terms “idolatry” and “paganism”) of Greek gods and goddesses whose behaviors appalled Justin’s moral sensibilities. Eventually through his search, Justin found and embraced Christianity, and is recognized as the first of Christianity’s philosophers (and their patron saint).

What Justin’s search raises for me: Is it really preferable having one god who is a projection of perfection, chastity, purity, untouchable/unapproachable holiness, austerity, and sinlessness–and of course all those omni- words (omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent) rather than having a god or a raft of gods and goddesses that are more like we are–lustful, vengeful, robust, sexual, jealous, lazy, unexpectedly kind, passionate, unpredictable, cowardly, artistic, insecure, fierce, and always discovering, acting, and reacting? And if the answer is the former, then please tell me WHY?

What IS the value of having a god that is everything good, perfect, and unattainable? How is this a trade-up from having Zeus and his bunch? If you want lightning and rage, you have Zeus. Need virginal purity? Artemis is on hand. Something less virginal and more embodied? Aphrodite fits the bill. Youthful beauty and music, with a touch of bisexuality thrown in? Apollo. Wisdom and envy of a good weaver? Athena. Someone to lead you in battle (“Onward, Christian Soldiers!”)? Ares! Have a yen for rituals involving wine? Dionysus. Need bread, too? Demeter. Need afterwards to “lay you down to sleep”? Hypnos.

Here is what seems like the main advantage of a holy and pure God that is the Ultimate Judge: With such a clean screen like that, people can project onto such a God all their own “holy hatreds” and thereby follow and proclaim a God who directs them (and others, of course) to have precisely the prejudices that they already have. Look just at Christianity in the United States: Don’t like homos? There’s a Christian denomination or two just for you! Don’t want women in leadership? You’re covered. How about you don’t like Republicans? We have churches whose God doesn’t like them, either! You don’t like poor people? Check. Hate the rich? Got churches for you, too. Hate ALL forms of sexuality? Oh, yeah, no problem. Want to feel superior to all others? Mega-church and mini-church varieties abound. Want to feel like a piece of shit? Take your pick. Hate hierarchy and rules for who can and can’t be in charge? Plenty of options. Prefer being part of a clearly established hierarchy with the weight of history behind it? Not a problem.

And every one of these churches claim to follow the same, One True God (now locked in, doctrinally–and, worth noting, all post-Justin–as a three-in-one, one-in-three deal, encompassing that Jewish YHWH, a two-two-two-natures-in-one Jesus Christ, and an invisible “proceeding from” ghost that can simultaneously bring peace while working miracles).

So what is it that makes Christianity preferable to that Greek pantheon? The facile answers (ones that Justin would never have accepted, interestingly enough) are that Christianity is REAL and the Greek gods were just myths and stories and NOT real; that Jesus Christ provides salvation from our sins and eternal damnation (which only works if you believe that one is in need of saving from falling into the hands of a God of love who would cast you into an eternal lake of sulfurous fire); that Jesus Christ showed humanity a way to live a holy and sinless life, though of course what Jesus did, no one else can, not having the two natures and all.

Where would a sincere seeker end up today, if, like Justin, she was unwilling to simply accept the “givens” of her society, culture, and traditions?