The whole history of Christian thought is an attempt to salvage disappointed expectations and the ignorance of Scripture's authors. Initial devotees were among that portion of humanity which clustered around the great pond of the Mediterranean Sea, and had scant idea there was much of anything elsewhere. Just as something had to be tortured out of the tales and prophecies to carry people over the fact that the world did not end while people who heard the Christ preach still lived, as he is said to have proclaimed, so did discovery of the greater world, from unknown continents to the earth's orbiting the sun, require some doctrinal sleight of hand to smooth over the awkwardness. So it became the job of the believer to acquaint all those not yet informed of the business, so all would have the choice of accepting or rejecting their belief before the End came. Remember the root deity is said to have selected not one race, but one mere nation, as especial favorites, who were to be priests to the rest in the fullness of time. Given such an initial premise, national, ethnic, and racial hierarchies are only to be expected....
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