Theos-Talk Archives (March 2004 Message tt00464)

Yes, you are quite right. There is a continuing discourse among 
historians, archeologists et al which continually reveals new findings 
and brings new interpretations to what we know. It is a fascinating 
process, and it is sad that there are relatively so few of us who take 
more than a passing interest in these things. And as you suggest, there 
are also "revisionist" historians out there--some of whom, would like 
you to believe that the Shoah never happened. However, it is neither 
the honest historians nor the revisionists that have the final say. 
Rather, it is what is adopted by popular culture. Allow me to offer an 
example or two to illustrate where I was coming from in my original 
statement:

In our popular Judeo-Christian culture, the Canaanites are remembered as 
loathsome idol worshippers and fornicators, hated by God--that is how 
they are portrayed in the Scriptures. While, major archeological finds 
dating from 1928 and still continuing, have shown that the Canaanite 
culture was tremendously influential in the development of the Hebrew 
culture, popular conceptions have not changed. Again, and perhaps a 
clearer example: in spite of the archeological evidence that the 
Philistines were a very high culture, they are still popularly regarded 
as a savage uncouth people. The word "philistine" still remains in our 
language to describe an uncouth person who has no appreciation for the arts.

Hitler, Rasputan, Stalin, Marquee de Sade etc., regardless of whatever 
virtues they may have had, remain in popular culture as "bad men," and 
I don't think any number of historians or revisionists, for the 
foreseeable future, are likely to change that.

On more interesting example: Have you seen the movie, the Passion? It 
is hugely popular, even though it neither follows the Gospels nor does 
it draw from what we have learned from historical evidence. The huge 
amount of money it has grossed in the box office, seems to suggest that 
the general public doesn't care. 
--jhe 

stevestubbs wrote:

> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Jerry Hejka-Ekins <jjhe@c...> 
> wrote:
>
>
> > I think an important lesson here is to never forget that it is the 
> > victors who write the history.
> I have seen and read histories of borh world wars written by 
> Germans. One of thrm disputed Churchhill's "myth" of "the genius 
> Rommel," which the author claimed was cooked up to cover up British 
> incompetence. That the British were incompetent (not to mention 
> cynical, venal, etc.) is fairly well established. Victory did not 
> empower them to cover that up. Nor did victory cover up the fact 
> that Curtis LeMay was a war criminal who died unpunished. People who 
> claim world war II never happened, though, seem less than credible 
> IMHO.