On martyrdom and men's self delusions

[SeattleUte]

H.L. Mencken:

"As a matter of fact, it
seems to me that an idea that happens to be true--or, more exactly, as
near to truth as any human idea can be, and yet remain generally
intelligible--it seems to me that such an idea carries a special and
often fatal handicap. The majority of men prefer delusion to truth. It
soothes. It is easy to grasp. Above all, it fits more snugly than the
truth into a universe of false appearances--of complex and irrational
phenomena, defectively grasped. But though an idea that is true is thus
not likely to prevail, an idea that is _attacked_ enjoys a great
advantage. The evidence behind it is now supported by sympathy, the
sporting instinct, sentimentality--and sentimentality is as powerful as
an army with banners. One never hears of a martyr in history whose
notions are seriously disputed today. The forgotten ideas are those of
the men who put them forward soberly and quietly, hoping fatuously that
they would conquer by the force of their truth; these are the ideas that
we now struggle to rediscover. Had Nietzsche lived to be burned at the
stake by outraged Mississippi Methodists, it would have been a glorious
day for his doctrines."

I note Waters' allusion a while ago to the possibility, as with all martyrdoms, of a covert, unspoken conspiracy between JS and his martyrers. I think this is a facinating, valid point. In Spain for centuries the primary means of Christian resistance to Muslim occupation was deliberate martyrdom, including mortification of the flesh. During the reconquista these martyrs were well rememberd. Christ, or more precisely the authors of the Gospels, understood this principle.

Discuss