Category Archives: History

13
Oct

H. G. Wells and our modern “world order”

From the classic book on the atomic bomb Sziland, by the way, was the model for Dr. Strangelove…

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21
Dec

Einstein the reluctant nationalist

He had been recruited by the pioneering Zionist leader Kurt Blumenfeld, who paid a call on Einstein in Berlin in early 1919. “With extreme naïveté he asked questions,” Blumenfeld recalled. Among Einstein’s queries: With their intellectual gifts, why should Jews … Continue reading →

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19
Dec

Not liking Erasmus that much

A Man is then a certain monstrous beast compact together of parts two or three of great diversity. Of a soul as of a certain goodly thing, and of a body as it were a brute or dumb beast. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible & Theology, Goodreads.com, History | 3 Comments
18
Dec

Evidence that John Jay was no prophet

The JUST causes of war, for the most part, arise either from violation of treaties or from direct violence. America has already formed treaties with no less than six foreign nations, and all of them, except Prussia, are maritime, and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, political-economy | 1 Comment
10
Dec

Guest post: Advice from Erasmus on how to deal with the Muslim enemy

The best way and most effectual to overcome and win the Turks, should be if they shall perceive that thing which Christ taught and expressed in his living to shine in us. If they shall perceive that we do not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible & Theology, History, war | Leave a comment
8
Dec

Oh, those poor rich people forced to offer us such low prices…

The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance by Ron Chernow My rating: 4 of 5 stars I haven’t finished this book yet, but I have gotten far enough (up to WWII) to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Goodreads.com, History, political-economy | 3 Comments
17
Nov

Alastair on substantiations and other aspects of the Lord’s Supper in Protestantism

It is popularly supposed in certain quarters that the general denial of transubstantiation among Protestants and particularly by the Reformers was occasioned by a resistance to the ideas of the ‘Real Presence’ of Christ in the Eucharist, or to the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Worship | Leave a comment
16
Nov

Jean Balard of Geneva

In Calvin’s Geneva, E. William Monter gives Balard’s dates as circa 1488 to 1555. He lived in the Lower City of Geneva near the Eastern gate. (Note here are what look like confirming documents for Monter, but I don’t read … Continue reading →

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6
Nov

Some provisional thoughts from studying John Calvin’s life

The French Evangelicals were initially protected by Francis I against persecution from the provincial parlemonts. There was no reason at all for Calvin to associate republicanism with safety for Protestantism and monarchy with persecution of Protestantism. And, in any case, … Continue reading →

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2
Nov

The myth of the Republican (or Democratic) John Calvin

John Calvin comments on 1 Timothy 2.2 (boldface added): For kings He expressly mentions kings and other magistrates because, more than all others, they might be hated by Christians. All the magistrates who existed at that time were so many … Continue reading →

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