Thanks for your response. You are absolutely right about Rowan Williams exemplifying word-care. And I agree with you: my post does indeed throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I can say only this in my defence. Firstly, a significant proportion of my target audience is the average, relatively well-educated internet user, who is most likely atheist or agnostic, and who has no specialist knowledge of theology or philosophy. I’m sure you’d agree that to attract such an audience, it would be wise to avoid diving into the subtle niceties of a particular doctrine, however much I believe that to be important in other circumstances.

My posts seem to fall into two broad categories: tightly-argued/ nuanced posts, on the one hand, and, on the other, polemics. They both have the same aim, but what one does positively the other does negatively. The former aims to guide the reader to a more enlightened state than that in which they began; to coax them bit by bit or take them gently by the hand. The polemic, in contrast, aims to be bold, to jolt and to shock. The ‘truth’ of its thesis is not immanent to the post itself, but rather arises negatively out of the momentary scission of the habitual. It is the difference between painting a fresco on the side of an already very beautiful house and knocking the house down ready for it to be replaced by another, perhaps more commodious, abode.

None of that, of course, alters the fact that your criticism is justified.

Best wishes,

Daniel

I would highlight the “in certain circumstances” in the quote above. Rowan Williams exemplifies word-care; Halden’s post, and it seems yours as well, throws the baby out with the bath water.

I also enjoy the fact that the “Possibly related post: (automatically generated)” which comes under your post is: “Does Penis Size Really Matter”.

Answer: well it’s just not that important.