But still, Susan, you must admit that there is much in the gospels that it is easier to turn to evil ends than to good. "I came not to bring peace but a sword." The apparent racism of Jesus' initial comment to the Syro-Phoenician woman. John's (especially) usage vis-à-vis the term "the Jews". Insisting on the breakup of family members and turning close relatives against each other. As a member of a free church with little lectionary experience, I am not sure how you liturgical, apostolic-succession types handle these things in practice, but I know that in the hands of those who want inflammatory texts to dive off of these (and many others, including even more numerous ones in the Hebrew scriptures) are readily available and quite handy. I don't think there is a branch of Christianity that doesn't bear some guilt, and I don't think there's a magic insurance policy in scripture or polity or doctrine that will guard against it.

Liland