We remember them [the Jews] for one thing alone, but it is the most important thing: the revelation of the one, holy, all-knowing, almighty, all-loving God. Whether you believe it or not (and I do), it is a plain fact that this single revelation--with all the history in which it is embedded and by which it comes to light--has been the most important idea in the history of the world. Secular historians today explain the past in terms of accidents: Who had steel? Who bore which germs? What wind blew which ships where? Bit if you really ask how we got where we are today (and by "we" here, I mean almost everyone in the world), you inevitably return to the city walls of Ur, and Abraham's revelation from God.~ Anthony Esolen, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western CivilizationI'm enjoying this book because Prof. Esolen deals mainly with the Big Ideas of history and not so much the events, people, and dates. Not that I don't love those too, but I have a pretty good grasp of the nuts and bolts already. My weakest area is ancient history. It all comes of being married to a classicist who is more than happy to tackle that part of our daughters' education, so dealing with the overarching themes and ideas of ancient Greece and Rome has been helpful to me.
A house without a woman and firelight is like a body without soul or sprite.~~Poor Richard's Almanack (1733)
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Wednesday with Words~ The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization
I'm joining Cindy at Ordo Amoris for her Wednesday with Words feature. This is my first time, so I hope I'm doing it right!
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I had missed this earlier. So happy you joined. There isn't really a right or wrong way to join :) I tend to like the big ideas but my history major son condemns me for this :) Not really but we like to talk about it. I maintain that the big ideas helped him learn the details later. First comes love....
ReplyDeleteThat's okay, Cindy. I missed that you had commented! lol Thanks for stopping by! :)
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