Category Archives: history

Hugh Trevor-Roper, Secular Rightist?

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Andrew Stuttaford

One of us? Yes, he made his mistakes (not least that whole Hitler diaries thing), but so do we all. In any event, read this extract from a splendid review in the New Humanist of a collection of writings by … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged | 8 Comments

On Jews & genetics

Posted on June 6, 2010 by David Hume

I have been travelling, and so blogging has been light from my end for a while now. But I thought I would point readers to a long post I put up over at Discover Blogs on Jewish genetics. The post … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Agora

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Andrew Stuttaford

Looking for a new movie to watch? Give Agora a try. This intriguing and ultimately very moving  film tells the tale of Hypatia, the (atheist) mathematician and philosopher murdered by a Christian mob in 415 AD. Silver screen historical accuracy is what it … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Great Leaps Backward

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Andrew Stuttaford

Not long after the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975 I remember hearing accounts of how the victorious Khmer Rouge was smashing up radios, gramophones, televisions and other consumer goods. It was at that moment I felt certain that Cambodia … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, history, politics | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Historical contingencies of civilizational ideologies

Posted on February 20, 2010 by David Hume

Reading An Introduction to Confucianism, which is not the typical historically linear treatment (i.e., Confucius → Han dynasty State Confucianism → Song dynasty Neo-Confucianism, etc.), and is also more comprehensive than most introductions (it’s over 350 pages). In case, the … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged | 3 Comments

Natalist Fundamentalism

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Bradlaugh

I have just learned that my paternal granny was one of at least 11 children, born in England 1860-1880.  My mother was one of 13, born 1896-1917.  How they did breed! Learning that fact a couple of hours after reading Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, history | 22 Comments

Re: Needing to Know History

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Bradlaugh

Indeed, Mr Hume, the past is another country.  They do things differently there. Brooke Allen wrote a good book about the Founders’ religion.  At any rate I recall thinking it was well researched & written.  Now, looking it up on … Continue reading →

Posted in history | 14 Comments

You need to know history to talk about history

Posted on February 12, 2010 by David Hume

The New York Times Magazine has a long piece, How Christian Were the Founders?, which outlines the efforts of school board members of fundamentalist inclinations to shift the narrative about the founding of the American republic. In short, these activists … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, history | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Salem’s Lot

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Andrew Stuttaford

Over at the Corner yesterday, I linked to Dorothy Rabinowitz’s fine WSJ piece on the involvement of Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate in the Massachusetts senate race, in the persecution of the Amirault family, the true victims of a now notorious sex … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Less More, Please

Posted on December 12, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

During the course of his visit to Britain next year, the Pope will be addressing the country’s parliamentarians from the spot, reports the Daily Telegraph, where Sir Thomas More was sentenced to death in 1535. The choice of venue is, … Continue reading →

Posted in history, politics | Tagged , , | 5 Comments