Sebastian Morello tells us that the beloved martyr St Thomas More described Pico Della Mirandola as 'a perfect philosopher and a perfect theologian.' But is it true?
If Morello can't grasp that the passage in question is NOT St. Thomas More's, but was translated from another source, then Morello's credibility is suspect...
The mistakes Morello, Kwasniewski & company make are basic & endemic to their work. They make a great show of scholarship but their audience for some reason are sucked in by the show, as if it were letting down the side to say these scholarly emperors are unclothed.
Thank you again Mr Wright for doing the work of what my Shakespeare professor called “the honest hod-men of science”, the unglamorous work of careful reading, unswayed by the persiflage of the super-speculators.
“During the course of a visit to Italy, he (Johannes von Reuchlin) had encountered Pico della Mirandola, who had impressed upon him the importance of the Jewish Cabala as the key to the great verities of life, and even as proof of the truth of Christianity. Thus stimulated, Reuchlin had begun to study Hebrew under the direction of Jacob Loans, physician to the Emperor Frederick III. “ (Roth, A Short History of the Jewish People, pp. 265-266)
“In his disputation with Jacob von Hochstraten and Johannes Pfefferkorn he defended the Jewish works: ‘the Talmud, which contained much of value to Christians; the Cabala, which supported Christian theology; and Biblical manuscripts, prayer books, and hymns in Hebrew.’” (The Reformation Era, 1500-1650, Harold J. Grimm, 1954, p. 74) For more concerning the disputation on the Talmud see Pfefferkorn.
Indeed. It was a part of the Judaization preceding the Reformation. For more information from the Jewish side, see Rabbi Louis Newman's, "Jewish Influence On Christian Reform Movements".
If Morello can't grasp that the passage in question is NOT St. Thomas More's, but was translated from another source, then Morello's credibility is suspect...
The mistakes Morello, Kwasniewski & company make are basic & endemic to their work. They make a great show of scholarship but their audience for some reason are sucked in by the show, as if it were letting down the side to say these scholarly emperors are unclothed.
A well reasoned and a learned defense. Sir Thomas More would be proud! And is happy to be saved from the Necromancers.
Thank you again Mr Wright for doing the work of what my Shakespeare professor called “the honest hod-men of science”, the unglamorous work of careful reading, unswayed by the persiflage of the super-speculators.
Many thanks!
“During the course of a visit to Italy, he (Johannes von Reuchlin) had encountered Pico della Mirandola, who had impressed upon him the importance of the Jewish Cabala as the key to the great verities of life, and even as proof of the truth of Christianity. Thus stimulated, Reuchlin had begun to study Hebrew under the direction of Jacob Loans, physician to the Emperor Frederick III. “ (Roth, A Short History of the Jewish People, pp. 265-266)
“In his disputation with Jacob von Hochstraten and Johannes Pfefferkorn he defended the Jewish works: ‘the Talmud, which contained much of value to Christians; the Cabala, which supported Christian theology; and Biblical manuscripts, prayer books, and hymns in Hebrew.’” (The Reformation Era, 1500-1650, Harold J. Grimm, 1954, p. 74) For more concerning the disputation on the Talmud see Pfefferkorn.
Yes, interest in Kabalah seems to have been very popular at that time.
Indeed. It was a part of the Judaization preceding the Reformation. For more information from the Jewish side, see Rabbi Louis Newman's, "Jewish Influence On Christian Reform Movements".
https://youtu.be/LUVmCERvK00?si=hSwZTdahG4D5B7wL The first 7 minutes and 51 second intro is an eye opener.