tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post7605892953477111553..comments2023-08-10T23:28:30.929-04:00Comments on Til the Last Hemlock Dies: Swearing, by Jove!James Robert Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-34704026846133842142012-06-26T22:05:34.640-04:002012-06-26T22:05:34.640-04:00Indeed. The library was damaged several times in i...Indeed. The library was damaged several times in its history, but the worst of these events was committed by the Christians when they were finishing up the hideous job of destroying reason and tolerance in the old Roman Empire.<br /><br />Islam hadn't been invented yet when the most grievous and irreversible damage was done.James Robert Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-19585814528633071622012-06-26T08:52:23.609-04:002012-06-26T08:52:23.609-04:00The books and other cultural treasures were burned...The books and other cultural treasures were burned during battles between the Arians and Athanasians who were fighting a Civil War over whether Christian doctrine should consider Jesus God or man. This was 300 years before Islam was born.MarkGelbarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01343075239471716588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-60096755240066651312012-06-25T21:41:01.635-04:002012-06-25T21:41:01.635-04:00Most people refer to the burning of the great libr...Most people refer to the burning of the great library at Alexandria in the year 391, which was definitely done by Christians.<br /><br />It's a complicated story, but the short of it is that the Christians did it.James Robert Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-24753816107152880312012-06-25T12:00:38.002-04:002012-06-25T12:00:38.002-04:00Definitely hateful, but innocent in this case. It...Definitely hateful, but innocent in this case. It was the muslim conquerors of Eqypt who burnt the Library of Alexandria to heat the water for the Sultan's bath. They did spare the works of Aristotle, however. But don't let this get you down: in the preceding three centuries, the christian librarians had already thrown out most of the knowledge of the ancient world contained in the library. What was burnt was largely christian theological tracts.Iain Quicksilverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08684582555254165767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-30451350253140829352012-06-25T11:43:09.045-04:002012-06-25T11:43:09.045-04:00Good for you. As long as the swearing isn't f...Good for you. As long as the swearing isn't frivolous, I suppose it is safe to swear by All-Father. Personally, I like the oath "I swear by the gods by whom my people swear." And if ever called upon to take the oath in court, that is what I will say, contempt or no contempt. Incidentally, William Blake refused to take the oath as administered in court, because he claimed to be a Druid. This was late 18th century! Imagine the scandal!Iain Quicksilverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08684582555254165767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-13178084360389558292012-06-24T22:59:15.359-04:002012-06-24T22:59:15.359-04:00Definitely. They were (are) a hateful lot.Definitely. They were (are) a hateful lot.James Robert Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-49042938602916893452012-06-24T19:29:46.461-04:002012-06-24T19:29:46.461-04:00Christians also burned the massive library in Alex...Christians also burned the massive library in Alexandria, Egypt. This library probably held all of the knowledge of the ancient world. This knowledge was lost for all time. Burning this library probably contributed to the advent of the Dark Ages.MarkGelbarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01343075239471716588noreply@blogger.com