St. Augustine

If your English teacher ever corrected you for "run-on" sentences, get a load of anything by St. Augustine. Paragraphs long.

I am currently reading bits and pieces of "City of God", in which he addresses every conceivable topic about the early Church. I've long wondered why he was so popular as a Christian author, and I'm beginning to understand.

His topics alone are fascinating. He argues against every Roman god (while they were still being worshipped), essentially saying "If your gods are so great, why did they allow Rome to be besieged?"
Or, "If Christianity is the cause of all your problems, why don't YOUR gods come in and rescue you?"
Or, in a more serious vein, "Virtue cannot be damaged if one is violated (by the Barbarians). It does not rest upon a physical act, but by the intent of the soul."

Writing during the 4th Century A.D.-that's 354-430, the New Testament was still being formed. He had no Scriptures of Jesus Christ, or Paul of Tarsus to rely upon.     

He wrote volumes about Christianity, arguing points that hold up even in today's cynical climate, and he's extremely understandable. The writing is not stiff nor formal,which is why he's still read today. He stands out amongst what must have been hundreds of clergy by the sheer clarity and quantity of his work.

If you are wondering at all about God, or why you should believe in Him, please read Augustine of Hippo.