The Tonic Of Charlatans

Not like we expected him to recant. I think the most telling part about Hume's proselytizing (a word which he evidently doesn't understand) is how it televises his lack of wisdom. We like to think about redemption in terms of getting past a sin, but we don't really think about the process as teaching us something.

As someone who's done his share of sinning, I think the striking thing about a serious process of redemption is how it humbles you. It isn't simply a process of exoneration, or making amends, it's a fundamental questioning of bone-deep philosophy. You learn about the ignorance of your certainty. Having been deeply wrong before, you come to know that as a flawed thing, you are subject to being deeply wrong again.

I don't think Hume understands redemption anymore than he understands proselytizing. And I don't think he understands the God he's selling, like, at all. Hume speaks of the virtues of his savior, who for all his splendor, majesty and love, has not given Hume the kind of basic respect for people that we try to instill in five year olds. This is snake-oil.