text: Reading Justin Martyr's noble apology for the Christians, I am depressed at how much he refers to Hell and to the wickedness of the Jews. Christianity got off to a bad start. The question raised in this editorial is really directed at the early church's obsession with virginity and continence and purity, as in the Epistle to the Ephesians and again in Justin. The rethink, if such is needed, has to begin there.