To make historical events more relatable, historians often write scenarios that are unconfirmed but very likely to have happened. After all, stories about people from centuries past may not be very entertaining. Think of passages that describe the thoughts of the historical figure being showcased. Historians’ assumptions about what historical figures thought are influenced by our 21st-century speech patterns, so it’s critical to distinguish between what a figure thought and what we thought they were thinking. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
