Sunday, December 13, 2009

091213-FN4 / The Blockheads is Us


I feel obliged to point out that the gloss is not as inane as it might seem. We ought not presume that everyone before “us” was an utter fool. Medieval man was nothing if not subtle and we are the dummies for reading him literally. The formula “when God secretly inspires” is a simple but rigorous way of covering all those instances of either just or excusable homicide. God would not inspire an “unjust” killing or one that was not forgivable on account necessity or hardship. Thus the claim, “God made me do it” would be followed up with an inquisition guided by the standards of what God would allow and assisted, as might be needed, by boiling water.

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