Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2020 February 29

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February 29

Todays views on the European cultur

I wonder, how is European culture currently seen in the world outside Europe. Is europe still seen as a colonial power? Or as the birthplace of the Enlightenment and science?
Does one see in Europe rather Christianity or rather the art and literature of the Renaissance? Are Europeans rather seen as cultured intellectuals or as decadent wealthy people?--82.82.235.179 (talk) 09:26, 29 February 2020 (UTC)

I think it would depend a lot on the region (North America, Latin America, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa etc). AnonMoos (talk) 20:58, 29 February 2020 (UTC)

Even within the same region, views will be mixed. Heck, even a single individual can hold mixed views - disparaging Europe for one thing, and praising it for another. Blueboar (talk) 21:28, 29 February 2020 (UTC)

I see what they're going for here, and it's an interesting query, but the question as posed is far too broad to be answerable. Temerarius (talk) 04:59, 1 March 2020 (UTC)

Agree. However, 82.82.235.179 could look at the Eurobarometer. Per this, they occasionally survey non-Europeans for their attitudes towards the EU. Read the actual survey questions and detailed results here. There isn't a question that's a direct match to the question here, but you can get things like Canadians think of the EU as an economic power while Turks are more likely to mention its respect for rule of law. Or Brazilians think Europe is a place that embodies respect for the environment but Indians do not agree. etc etc. Culture in the sense of current social mores and trends. 70.67.193.176 (talk) 16:57, 3 March 2020 (UTC)

In all such research, it is well to remember that "The EU" does not equate to "Europe" or vice-versa. My own country is in the process of ending its membership of the EU, but will continue to be geographically, culturally, and to a negotiable extent economically, part of Europe. Several other European countries have never been members of the EU. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.122.3.11 (talk) 16:14, 5 March 2020 (UTC)

As Boris Johnson and the Daily Telegraph never tire of telling us, this country has ended its membership of the EU. EU inspectors are going to be at ports such as Liverpool scrutinising cargos bound for e.g. Belfast for the foreseeable future (something which Boris denies although he signed the agreement). Having the EU controlling all trade between United Kingdom ports is more intrusive than EU judges deciding a handful of cases. 2A00:23C5:318A:3100:D5E6:F2EC:EB77:6EF4 (talk) 14:39, 7 March 2020 (UTC)

Henry VIII and Thomas Beckett

Our article The Corona, Canterbury Cathedral repeats a story about Henry VIII summonsing Thomas Beckett for treason, contumacy, and rebellion, and then carrying out a trial in Beckett's absence, he having failed to respond to the summons. The story is sourced to Withers, Hartley (1897). The Cathedral Church of Canterbury. Bell's Cathedral Series. p. 13. which doesn't itself seem convinced by it. Are there any other sources for this charming fable? Thank you, DuncanHill (talk) 23:13, 29 February 2020 (UTC)

Withers writes that the story "was so implicitly believed at the time" as well as that there are "doubts which modern criticism casts on its authenticity", which implies there are both contemporaneous and modern sources. Unfortunately, the text does not identify any of its sources.  --Lambiam 13:25, 1 March 2020 (UTC)

Here is another account of the story, with some sources including of criticism, and here is some specific "modern criticism".  --Lambiam 13:38, 1 March 2020 (UTC)

What would have been the point of summonsing someone who had been dead for over 350 years? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:55, 2 March 2020 (UTC)

Aside from the political and/or theological issues that were ongoing under Henry VIII, the paragraph in question's closing words hints at a more mundane motivation: ". . . and the treasures of his shrine confiscated, carried away in two coffers and twenty-six carts." The incident's alleged date falls within the period of Henry's Dissolution of the Monasteries. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.200.142.153 (talk) 23:14, 2 March 2020 (UTC)

That and the idea that a priest could be made a saint by standing up to royal authority over the church, which was somewhat counter to Henry's game-plan. In 1538, the Chapel of St Thomas on the Bridge in London changed its dedication from Thomas Beckett to Thomas the Apostle in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid Henry's eradication of the Beckett cultus. Alansplodge (talk) 17:32, 6 March 2020 (UTC)