Microsoft Word - ChristianityNotReligionBkMSS.doc

Chapter Six

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT

ROLE-PLAYING

The famous bard from Avon, William Shakespeare,
wrote into the script of his play, As You Like It, these lines,

“All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts.” 1

Is it true that “all the world’s a stage,” and life is
“playing various parts” or roles? The world-system seems
to be built on the pretense of playing roles. All men and
women are either actors or actresses. Some work back-
stage, some have bit-parts, some have supporting roles, and
all aspire to achieve a star-role.
There is a basic philosophy that pervades the thinking
of our society today which regards everything as a “show,”
a “production,” a “performance.” It is all “staged” and