Back when Quote by Eugene Green
“The information that was contained in a cathedral was based upon a common culture - a common Christian culture - and the elements were chosen for a common symbolic meaning. Someone who knew everything that was represented in a cathedral had a sort of encyclopedia - you can indeed call it that - but it was a selective encyclopedia, like encyclopedias back when they were books and the people writing them were supposed to be specialists in their field. I think today the problem is that people don't know how to choose between different kinds of information.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Cathedral and the City, Eugene Green, 2015
Cathedrals encoded a shared Christian worldview, acting as a selective encyclopedia of cultural symbols; today we lack the skill to discern among varied information sources.
In simple terms: Cathedrals were cultural encyclopedias; modern people struggle to choose information.
Key Takeaway
Learn to evaluate sources critically.
Themes
culture
knowledge
symbolism
information overload
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- museum curation
- personal study
- critical reading
Key Concepts
semiotics
historical context
media literacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we develop better criteria for source selection?
- What modern tools can emulate the cathedral’s curatorial role?
A Different Perspective
Information abundance can overwhelm without proper frameworks.
![“I barely trust established sources of information. I have a hard time finding [Wikipedia], an encyclopedia that anyone can alter, to be a safe way to learn about anything except how many idiots think their opinions are a suitable substitute for facts.” quote by R. K. Milholland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/706/r-k-milholland-17910_encyclopedia_i-barely-trust-established-sources-of-in_1982115.jpg)
