The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas… After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison. The city of Philippi was abandoned and all that remains are ruins which are being excavated. You can walk down the same streets Paul and Silas walked. Similarly, the ancient city of Corinth was abandoned and all that remains are ruins. You can stand under the bench where Gallio pronounced judgement on Paul. Christianity is a historical religion, not one full of speculation about other worldly realities. It was grounded in the concrete experiences of the Jewish nation, of a Roman citizen, of the Greek culture. Authentic Christian experience continues to stay grounded in history, in the concreteness of life in the world. That explains Pope Francis’ insistence that care for the planet, our common home, is a religious obligation. Genuine faith takes the fleshiness of human life seriously.