Last week the Not PC blog published a post by James Valliant, Gimme That Old Time Religion. The stated purpose of the post was to prove that Christianity did not underpin Western Civilisation. I don't know if James Valliant considered that to be the main thrust of his post, but Peter Cresswell certainly thought the post succeeded in that apparent aim.
After having read the post, I thought that if James Valliant did want to "puncture the myth" that "Western Civilisation is underpinned by Christianity", he failed miserably. It seemed more like a diatribe against everything Christian than any sort of myth buster.
Matthew Flannagan has written a very good two part counter of Valliant's post, the most recent part being put up this morning. See Part i and Part ii. I think he neatly demolishes many of Valliant's points in the original post.
The only criticism I can make from my kitchen chair is that the supposed intention of Valliant's post to destroy the myth of Christianity underpinning Western Civilisation is not addressed. Valliant does a great job of spraying points everywhere, but what they seem to do is distract the reader from realising that he's not even attempted to make his case.
Though, apparently, according to Lindsay Perigo, "The Flannagans should pause to consider that James has forgotten more about The Religion of Fagot-Lighting than they will ever know." This is, I presume, an attempt to get Matthew to cease and desist, least Perigo's hero fall.
Perigo offers as proof of Valliant's mental prowess in this arena a two hour long interview with himself and Valiant. I've started listening to it, and boy, Valiant certainly knows alot. But, in amongst his great knowledge are little doozies such as the accusation that Christianity was made up by the Romans as propaganda. How can you take someone like that seriously? I've learned that the best lies are those inserted into mostly true statements.
I think I'll use the interview as training material for apologetics. My eldest son was incredulous that someone would think that Jewish Christians could not exist in Rome 10 years after the Crucifixion. Travel within the Roman Empire was pretty damn easy due to the Roman propensity to build roads and ensure easy troop and supply access to captured lands, so to say that the early Christians couldn't travel to Rome within 10 years is somewhat idiotic.
The only people that will be taken in by Valliant's version of history are those that themselves don't know much. Unfortunately, they seem to be quite numerous, so Matthew taking the time to address some of the more obvious point spraying is much appreciated by those of us watching from the sidelines.
After having read the post, I thought that if James Valliant did want to "puncture the myth" that "Western Civilisation is underpinned by Christianity", he failed miserably. It seemed more like a diatribe against everything Christian than any sort of myth buster.
Matthew Flannagan has written a very good two part counter of Valliant's post, the most recent part being put up this morning. See Part i and Part ii. I think he neatly demolishes many of Valliant's points in the original post.
The only criticism I can make from my kitchen chair is that the supposed intention of Valliant's post to destroy the myth of Christianity underpinning Western Civilisation is not addressed. Valliant does a great job of spraying points everywhere, but what they seem to do is distract the reader from realising that he's not even attempted to make his case.
Though, apparently, according to Lindsay Perigo, "The Flannagans should pause to consider that James has forgotten more about The Religion of Fagot-Lighting than they will ever know." This is, I presume, an attempt to get Matthew to cease and desist, least Perigo's hero fall.
Perigo offers as proof of Valliant's mental prowess in this arena a two hour long interview with himself and Valiant. I've started listening to it, and boy, Valiant certainly knows alot. But, in amongst his great knowledge are little doozies such as the accusation that Christianity was made up by the Romans as propaganda. How can you take someone like that seriously? I've learned that the best lies are those inserted into mostly true statements.
I think I'll use the interview as training material for apologetics. My eldest son was incredulous that someone would think that Jewish Christians could not exist in Rome 10 years after the Crucifixion. Travel within the Roman Empire was pretty damn easy due to the Roman propensity to build roads and ensure easy troop and supply access to captured lands, so to say that the early Christians couldn't travel to Rome within 10 years is somewhat idiotic.
The only people that will be taken in by Valliant's version of history are those that themselves don't know much. Unfortunately, they seem to be quite numerous, so Matthew taking the time to address some of the more obvious point spraying is much appreciated by those of us watching from the sidelines.
Quote: “son was incredulous that someone would think that Jewish Christians ”
ReplyDelete(le-havdil), A logical analysis (found here: www.netzarim.co.il (that is the only legitimate Netzarim)) of all extant source documents and archeology proves that the historical Ribi Yehosuha ha-Mashiakh (the Messiah) from Nazareth and his talmidim (apprentice-students), called the Netzarim, taught and lived Torah all of their lives; and that Netzarim and Christianity were always antithetical.
Judaism and Christianity have always been two antithetical religions, and thus the term “Jewish Christianity”, “Jewish Christians”, etc, are oxymorons.
Ribi Yehoshuas talmidim Netzairm still observes Torah non-selectively to their utmost today and the research in the above website implies that becoming one of Ribi Yehoshuas Netzarim-followers is the only way to follow him.
Thanks, Anders,
ReplyDeleteBut we are going to have to agree to disagree on this.
You might want to have a look at this site : Salvation is from the Jews to get a different perspective.