You can't understand European history at all other than through religion, or English literature either if you can't recognise biblical allusions.
Interpretation
Understanding European history and English literature requires knowledge of religious influences and biblical references.
Richard Dawkins emphasizes the critical role that religion, particularly Christianity, plays in shaping European history and literature. He argues that without recognizing biblical allusions, one cannot fully grasp the complexities and nuances of these subjects, suggesting that religion is a foundational element that interweaves through historical and literary narratives in Europe.
In practice
In a classroom discussion on European literature, one might use this quote to illustrate the importance of biblical references.
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He who refuses to learn deserves extinction.
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[On School Uniforms] Don't these schools do enough damage making all these kids think alike, now they have to make them look alike too? It's not a new idea, either. I first saw it in old newsreels from the 1930s, but it was hard to understand because the narration was in German.
Examinations, sir, are pure humbug from beginning to end. If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.
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