So much of leftist belief is a perversion and aping of Christianity. Rene Girard wrote that Christianity would be assailed from the left for being insufficiently compassionate. That's exactly what's going on with this drive for "equality."
Christian belief in the dignity of each and every human being stems from the teaching that we are made in the likeness of God, and are all equal before God. That has been perverted by the left as equality in the here and now...an unattainable goal to any right-thinking individual over the age of 10. Therefore, anything (and anyone) that opposes or disagrees with this needs to be hammered down. Leftist movements in the past have never been hesitant to crack some eggs in pursuit of their utopia. They are in the process of doing so again.
Friendly reminder: human rights stem from Christianity. As Christianity fades, there will be nothing to underpin that notion.
I highly recommend it. Not versed in many of the topics his academic works cover, I usually get the feeling of someone who is one hour late to a two hour movie, when I struggle through them.
Yes, I've read a whole bunch of Illich now, but I sometimes have that same sort of sense of "would've been great to learn about this guy earlier in life". But maybe not, maybe my 20-year-old self would not have understood what all the fuss was about!
When I asked that many years ago Tara Ann Thieke recommended to me "The Rivers North of the Future", an older book by David Cayley in which he summarizes some interviews he did with Illich:
For Illich's own writing... I think I read "Gender" first and WOULD NOT RECOMMEND that rather odd and technical book for your first Illich reading! "Deschooling Society" is short, easy to read, gives you a good sense for how Illich thinks about institutionalism... and is interesting to read because it was written BEFORE the boom in homeschooling, and before internet education, but seems to predict both those things:
What a wonderful post—and very helpful to me as a homeschooling parent. A good teacher can foster a sense of wonder in his students. Knowledge of our antecedents, and tracing their development over time, can help us question the certainties that may be blocking that wonder. Blocked wonder leads to intellectual fetishes, which tear away context.
I heard of Tribonian, the man primarily responsible for creating Justinian's Code, a few days ago. He's one of the 23 "Relief Portrait Plaques of Lawgivers" at the House gallery of the Capitol. (Manu isn't included--they're all Western men.) See https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/relief-portrait-plaques-lawgivers
My point is that these 23 men were deemed significantly responsible for the structure of the U.S., but a tiny number of Americans can identify all of them--or could have in 1950, when the plaques were made.
Every time I read your posts I feel a little bit smarter. I really have to pay attention to what you’re saying and they really make me think. Thank you. Your students are blessed to have you.
So much of leftist belief is a perversion and aping of Christianity. Rene Girard wrote that Christianity would be assailed from the left for being insufficiently compassionate. That's exactly what's going on with this drive for "equality."
Christian belief in the dignity of each and every human being stems from the teaching that we are made in the likeness of God, and are all equal before God. That has been perverted by the left as equality in the here and now...an unattainable goal to any right-thinking individual over the age of 10. Therefore, anything (and anyone) that opposes or disagrees with this needs to be hammered down. Leftist movements in the past have never been hesitant to crack some eggs in pursuit of their utopia. They are in the process of doing so again.
Friendly reminder: human rights stem from Christianity. As Christianity fades, there will be nothing to underpin that notion.
I do appreciate that elaboration, thanks. Also I need to read more Rene Girard!
Thanks. This is an excellent starter book on Girard's theory and philosophy: https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Bible-Rene-Girard-Conversations-ebook/dp/B01D09BCAO/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VCPL8TVG9HG8&keywords=reading+the+bible+with+rene+girard&qid=1692030808&sprefix=reading+the+bible+with+rene+girard%2Caps%2C358&sr=8-1
I highly recommend it. Not versed in many of the topics his academic works cover, I usually get the feeling of someone who is one hour late to a two hour movie, when I struggle through them.
PS, I have not listened to it yet, but the latest episode of my favorite bitcoin podcast... yes, that's what I said, is about mimetic desire, perhaps along a Girard line: https://whatismoneypodcast.com/episodes/the-nature-of-mimetic-desire-with-rob-henderson-wim351
Robert Breedlove, the host, is in fact a Christian with a philosophical bent of mind.
Interesting. Mimetic theory appears everywhere. Peter Thiel was Girard's student at Stanford: https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-on-rene-girards-influence-2014-11
I will look into that.
Yes, I've read a whole bunch of Illich now, but I sometimes have that same sort of sense of "would've been great to learn about this guy earlier in life". But maybe not, maybe my 20-year-old self would not have understood what all the fuss was about!
So true about our youth.
I have not read any Ilich. What would you suggest as a good place to start?
When I asked that many years ago Tara Ann Thieke recommended to me "The Rivers North of the Future", an older book by David Cayley in which he summarizes some interviews he did with Illich:
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/253075
For Illich's own writing... I think I read "Gender" first and WOULD NOT RECOMMEND that rather odd and technical book for your first Illich reading! "Deschooling Society" is short, easy to read, gives you a good sense for how Illich thinks about institutionalism... and is interesting to read because it was written BEFORE the boom in homeschooling, and before internet education, but seems to predict both those things:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223403.Deschooling_Society?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_17
Thanks. I just picked up the Cayley book on eBay.
“God created man. Sam Colt made ‘em equal. More or less.”
Still my favorite quote.
What a wonderful post—and very helpful to me as a homeschooling parent. A good teacher can foster a sense of wonder in his students. Knowledge of our antecedents, and tracing their development over time, can help us question the certainties that may be blocking that wonder. Blocked wonder leads to intellectual fetishes, which tear away context.
I heard of Tribonian, the man primarily responsible for creating Justinian's Code, a few days ago. He's one of the 23 "Relief Portrait Plaques of Lawgivers" at the House gallery of the Capitol. (Manu isn't included--they're all Western men.) See https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/relief-portrait-plaques-lawgivers
My point is that these 23 men were deemed significantly responsible for the structure of the U.S., but a tiny number of Americans can identify all of them--or could have in 1950, when the plaques were made.
And I also love reading all the intelligent replies.
That is certainly my favorite part. :)
Every time I read your posts I feel a little bit smarter. I really have to pay attention to what you’re saying and they really make me think. Thank you. Your students are blessed to have you.