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Mira
Thank you for your comment. I'm glad that you like my work, for my aim is to induce people to subject their own religious beliefs, and what has been done in the name of them, to the same rigorous scrutiny that scientists do with scientific theories ; not to mock their beliefs, nor to induce them to change them.
posted by
ariel70
on December 4, 2005 at 4:31 AM
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Blanche
Thank you for you comment.You are correct in stating that Lord Acton's dictum was as you say. I was in fact aware of tis, but with passage of time had overlooked it.
I feel that Lord Acton was being a little charitable in what he said, for in practice, absolute power does not merely tend to corrupt absolutely but does precisely that. We -- or least, I -- have seen this phenomenon in action many times in my long life, with the Nazis, Soviet Russia and many other states in more recent times.
Your comments are invariably interesting! Thank you.
posted by
ariel70
on December 4, 2005 at 4:28 AM
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Hello,
After reading your e-mail, I read some pieces of your writing. Well, I must say, I like "the Spanish Inquisition" very much. Firstly, I'm keen on the issue of religions. I grew up as a Catholic, but now I feel a bit agnostic. Secondly, I like history as such. Thirdly, I'm fascinated with your style...I like your belief in the condition of ordinary human beings. To sum up, reading your blog makes me feel more optimistic. Thanks a lot.
Yours,
mira1
posted by
mira1
on December 3, 2005 at 6:32 PM
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Ariel70,
I, too, thought that the Lord Acton quote was "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely", but I was corrected. The actual quote is "Power
tends to corrupt, and absolute power
tends to corrupt absolutely". A small distinction, but I think an important one. There is some hope, in that, I think. Otherwise, all powerful monarchies, oligarchies, and bureaucracies are doomed to fall.
posted by
Blanche.
on December 3, 2005 at 4:46 PM
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