Comments on: Maybe it’s the Europeans? http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/19/maybe-its-the-europeans/ Conservatives deal with facts and reach conclusions; liberals have conclusions and sell them as facts. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:03:48 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jose http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/19/maybe-its-the-europeans/comment-page-1/#comment-18146 Jose Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:03:59 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2263#comment-18146 Denis - good article. The fact that this country largely left tribal affiliations behind is what makes our culture work. Belgium is a perfect example of Europe's continuing problems with tribalism. Denis – good article.

The fact that this country largely left tribal affiliations behind is what makes our culture work.

Belgium is a perfect example of Europe’s continuing problems with tribalism.

]]> By: Denis Eugene Sullivan http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/19/maybe-its-the-europeans/comment-page-1/#comment-18144 Denis Eugene Sullivan Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:03:05 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2263#comment-18144 Greetings: If you're interested in an analysis of the ramifications of tribal culture, here's a link to an article I found in the Middle East Quarterly: http://www.meforum.org/article/1813 The Middle East's Tribal DNA by Philip Carl Salzman Middle East Quarterly Winter 2008 Greetings:

If you’re interested in an analysis of the ramifications of tribal culture, here’s a link to an article I found in the Middle East Quarterly:

http://www.meforum.org/article/1813

The Middle East’s Tribal DNA

by Philip Carl Salzman
Middle East Quarterly
Winter 2008

]]> By: Danny Lemieux http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/12/19/maybe-its-the-europeans/comment-page-1/#comment-18145 Danny Lemieux Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:26:55 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2263#comment-18145 The important point about religion is not that it makes us "good", but that it puts us on the path to becoming "better" individuals. As someone once noted, church isn't a meeting place for saints but a rehab center for sinners. The problem with Europeans is their historic infatuation with grand abstractions, be it empire or collectivism, that contradict human nature. When one is a secular humanist, one has no hope of finding Eden in a transcendental reality after death. There is only the hope of creating Eden (EUtopia?) on earth and collectively force-fitting human beings into that dream. Incidentally, I think that one of the most telling bits of evidence arguing for a Creator is the universal longing for Eden, be it through personal salvation, utopian political movements or modern environmentalism. It certainly is hardwired into our makeups. The important point about religion is not that it makes us “good”, but that it puts us on the path to becoming “better” individuals. As someone once noted, church isn’t a meeting place for saints but a rehab center for sinners.

The problem with Europeans is their historic infatuation with grand abstractions, be it empire or collectivism, that contradict human nature. When one is a secular humanist, one has no hope of finding Eden in a transcendental reality after death. There is only the hope of creating Eden (EUtopia?) on earth and collectively force-fitting human beings into that dream.

Incidentally, I think that one of the most telling bits of evidence arguing for a Creator is the universal longing for Eden, be it through personal salvation, utopian political movements or modern environmentalism. It certainly is hardwired into our makeups.

]]>