Episode 85 - Yielding, Sincerity, Integrity

Caught as we are in the seasonal gales of bawling and chest-beating of barely literate tyrants, there is much we cannot hear. Where I live, this last week of storms has left the low tide strand scoured and giant boulders half the size of cars are strewn about the upper shore, going nowhere. Meanwhile, and for some months, I have been considering the three seemingly unpopular qualities after which I named this piece.On these Isles, both the pagan religions that arrived by foot over Doggerland or by boat across the North Sea, or via the newly formed English Channel, and the religions of One God that came here by curragh from Ireland, then by ship and plane, have a deep current in common: the communal telling of stories of great lives. At differing times, or at overlapping nights around the fire, tales of heroes, goddesses, gods, kings, saints and villains were told, and the way in which these tales could inspire or instruct were at each time largely held in common. The ground water of these tales were the one great aquifer common to our thousand islands. Springs sprung up differently here and there; a variant, a telling detail, a differing parentage, a new tale seeping in. But it was clear that self-sacrifice for family, friends, kin, village, or for your principles, to give hospitality to ordinary people, giving away what was precious to the down-trodden or the hungry, were seen as good and noble things. This is as common in ancient myths I have read and heard as it is in words attributed to Jesus in the Gospels. Until very recently, these qualities were seen as universally good amongst all but followers of Machiavelli…This podcast was first published here on Substack with full transcript, footnotes, links and photos on Monday 3rd February 2025. Get full access to Uncivil Savant at carolineross.substack.com/subscribe