MATHETΩN

Today I was browsing Eugene’s little basement used–theology-and-philosophy–book dealer — Windows Booksellers, it’s called — and came across a like-new set of the original printing of The Fundamentals. I’ve read the Table of Contents online and read excerpts here and there, but this was the real artifact.

I browsed as much of them as I rapidly could — the store was closing. Ah a maddening and depressing episode! They asked many of the right questions for their crucial time, and answered them so very, very wrongly — wrongly in a way that was cunningly effectual to build a machinery of lies to outlive them.

It’s tempting to me to spend the money and bookshelf-space to acquire them. After all, when I was more political, I used to own Mein Kampf. Or to buy them, take copious notes, and return them — I am told the store accepts returns.

Each day I feel more convinced — yesterday as I took an evening walk I was feeling it most peculiarly — that Satan has nor ever had a stronger tool than that of the Christian church.

(I think I should not have posted these emotions until I could accompany them with those copious notes.)