I wouldn’t have made as many concessions to Christianity as you made. I think the collision of Greco-Roman and Germanic culture explains most of what needs explaining. And I think what we call Christianity in the west is so steeped in ancient Greek and Roman thought and mysticism, that we struggle to even distinguish some essence of Christianity separate from those influences. It’s not nothing, but it’s very much over-stated. If I had to choose an influence as a predictor of success, I’d pick Greco-Roman-Germanic over Judeo-Christian most days of the week.
But that’s just nitpicking. This was a good piece of writing and arguing. I’m glad you wrote it and that I read it.
I agree with you, and I think I actually said that I’m conceding too much in a footnote. I couldn’t speak to what you’re talking about with the Germanic culture intersecting with Greco-Roman ones, but i was kinda nodding in the direction you went with being steeped into Greek and Roman culture with the eucharist example.
But anyway, my strategy with these sorts of pieces is to maximally concede some points because (as a true Humean), I like to do the move where we say “even if your premises are correct, the conclusion does not follow” haha
Fair enough. And it’s a good habit to be generous and concede points that aren’t critical for the argument. Sometimes it just feels like a lot of giving with not much reciprocity.
Thank you. You said it well.
I wouldn’t have made as many concessions to Christianity as you made. I think the collision of Greco-Roman and Germanic culture explains most of what needs explaining. And I think what we call Christianity in the west is so steeped in ancient Greek and Roman thought and mysticism, that we struggle to even distinguish some essence of Christianity separate from those influences. It’s not nothing, but it’s very much over-stated. If I had to choose an influence as a predictor of success, I’d pick Greco-Roman-Germanic over Judeo-Christian most days of the week.
But that’s just nitpicking. This was a good piece of writing and arguing. I’m glad you wrote it and that I read it.
I agree with you, and I think I actually said that I’m conceding too much in a footnote. I couldn’t speak to what you’re talking about with the Germanic culture intersecting with Greco-Roman ones, but i was kinda nodding in the direction you went with being steeped into Greek and Roman culture with the eucharist example.
But anyway, my strategy with these sorts of pieces is to maximally concede some points because (as a true Humean), I like to do the move where we say “even if your premises are correct, the conclusion does not follow” haha
Fair enough. And it’s a good habit to be generous and concede points that aren’t critical for the argument. Sometimes it just feels like a lot of giving with not much reciprocity.
True, but I think it's extremely compelling for neutral readers!