Tag: history

The Curious Considerations of Flavius Finch: 1. The Universe is Spherical

May 23, 2024

I remember the moment I realised that the universe must be spherical. Upon exiting the British Museum, as I did on this bright day in February, amid the crush of disinterested tourists, one is funnelled, bustled, hustled, squeezed down the toothpaste tube of Great Russell Street, bracing yourself for the ram of the London taxi … More The Curious Considerations of Flavius Finch: 1. The Universe is Spherical

A bit more on Old Testament violence and the love of God

August 9, 2020

I recently finished Tom Holland’s Dominion. Reading the history of Christianity at the same time as reading about the conquest of Canaan in the Old Testament as I was, it really struck me that the two histories are depressingly similar. And though the Old Testament seems to indicate divinely-sanctioned violence, the ultimate testimony of Scripture, … More A bit more on Old Testament violence and the love of God

The Paradoxes of American History

July 27, 2010

I’m reading a great book at the moment, “America, Empire of Liberty”, which is basically a recent, re-thought history of America written by Cambridge professor David Reynolds. Helpfully for European readers like myself it obviously lacks the shallow patriotism and misrepresentation of facts which often comes with what is associated with American history as it … More The Paradoxes of American History