In Reply to: Re: Deadly Doctrine posted by Yvonne on May 12, 2005 at 16:55:12:
I am not well read in this field, so if you say that his view, as far as you understand it from a few paragraphs in his introduction, is "at odds with all the research" that you've read, then I take your word for it. I guess one question I'd have is if your reading has been a comprehensive survey of the literature in that area? If so, then it might be the case that that fact, that all or most of the research is at odds with him, actually supports Watter's thesis with regard to the permeation of Christianity in Western culture.
You say that you don't have time to read the book, which I totally understand, but you end by saying you want to know what he bases his position on. I not totally sure what you mean by that. I can tell you that he writes from a humanist perspective, if that wasn't clear from the quotations, and that he includes a substantial bibligraphy. But beyond that I could't begin to summarize the book for you. All I know is my personal experience, that it rang true for me throughout.
You are wise to try and simplify your life more, btw.