Thirsty Gargoyle

Constructive sceptic of the knowledge economy. Author of 'Cannae: The Experience of Battle'. Vulnerable to tea, long walks, and lost causes. Craves disapproval

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

Good to see my Amazon author page finally up and properly running, even if it still needs an author's picture: https://t.co/7PxfcMABqD

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@infernoxv @LMSChairman It’s certainly how I received in Aleppo.

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@holland_tom @BritishAcademy_ @TheRestHistory Oh! Congratulations, Tom. Well done!

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@Ms_Ali_B @DavidJazay It looks amazing when so isolated, doesn’t it? Bizarre and yet imposing. And definitely inviting. We should go there again one of these days?

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

Inside you, there are two Gregs.

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@PartTimePilgrim Not unless we think Benedict was of the view that his conclave was unique, and the only one where a two-thirds majority was a sign and indeed the only one where a majority of the cardinals electing should be understood as God himself electing. Which, I suppose, is possible…

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@hf_222222 Scott, I don’t think you know how language works.

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@hf_222222 I’m sorry, Scott. I don’t know how you’re getting this from that. This has him saying only that God allows us freedom to choose, doing so without entirely abandoning us. It’s ‘permissive will’ stuff, which is a far cry from “if the majority of cardinals elect, God is electing”.

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@hf_222222 I’m the earlier quote he said the Holy Spirit did not pick the Pope, but *at most* prevented utterly disastrous choices.

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@hf_222222 I’m reading exactly what he said, no more and no less.

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@hf_222222 It really isn’t.

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@hf_222222 I’m not saying he’s right in either case - they’re both just opinions - just that the latter opinion contradicted the former, and we shouldn’t be quoting the former without acknowledging that he changed his mind on this.

[Thirsty Gargoyle @thirstygargoyle]

@hf_222222 You’re abusing logic here. No elasticity gets from “the most he does is prevent things from being wrecked” to “if the majority of the cardinals elect, the Lord is electing”.