# What does Ratzinger mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130 "2005-04-19T21:06:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/61 "2023-01-01T09:32:35Z")
The way I read it, it means that he wants to be anathematized. [Again](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Honorius_I). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/62 "2023-01-01T12:44:52Z")
Split this topic on January 1, 2023, 12:44pm UTC A post was split to a new topic: [On Prior Names](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-prior-names/977463) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/63 "2023-01-01T14:30:24Z")
> [@Honorius](#): > > the equally meaningless construct of ‘Indo-European’ languages. What’s your basis for labeling the concept of Indo-European languages as meaningless? Indeed what is your expertise or evidence for rejecting comparative linguistic scholarship entirely? Do you understand that human identity is complex and that it is not necessarily linked to genetics? Indee, do you understand the complex interrelations of things like generic ancestry, language, culture, society, nationality, ethnicity, and identity? Or do you think that everything begins and ends with genetic ancestry? If that’s the case, we don’t have a common basis for the exchange of knowledge on this topic. Really, of the factors I listed above, generic ancestry is probably the _weakest_ factor in determining human identity. I would say language is the strongest factor. And that is why my comments have focused on language. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/64 "2023-01-02T01:21:09Z")
> [@Honorius](#): > > On the other hand, the Goths have genetics confirmed to be the only European genetics. > [@Honorius](#): > > (and Asian genetics) There’s no such thing as either “European genetics” or “Asian genetics.” These terms are 100 percent meaningless, unless you strictly define them for a particular purpose. Ultimately, all humans have African genetics. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/65 "2023-01-02T01:42:08Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > unless you strictly define them for a particular purpose And there is no definition I am aware of for _any_ purpose under which > [@Honorius](#): > > Goths have genetics confirmed to be the only European genetics is even a _coherent_ claim, let alone wrong. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/66 "2023-01-02T08:06:06Z")
_Genetic_ was originally a word used by scholars studying languages, as a means for grouping languages and exploring their relationships, and was borrowed by biologists. Occasionally someone mixes up the two meanings with unfortunate consequences. For what it’s worth, I have a copy of Orrin W. Robinson’s _Old English and its Closest Relatives: A Survey of the Earliest Germanic Languages_, and the first language discussed is Gothic. The explanations of language families, Indo-European, and the Germanic languages are similar to what one finds in Wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/67 "2023-01-02T21:29:00Z")
Closed on January 2, 2023, 9:29pm UTC ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/68 "2023-01-02T21:29:26Z")
As the [Troll that bumped](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130/30) this has been Banned, I’m going to leave this one closed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-ratzinger-mean/300130.md?page=3)