“One had the European culture overlaid on it and the other has the Arab culture overlaid on it.”
WHOA!
WHOA!
WHOA!
WHAT built classic “European culture”?
It was Jesus Christ teaching Europe through the Bible!!!
WHAT built classic “Arab culture”???
It was Mohammed teaching Arabia through the KORAN!!!
Jesus REDEEMED European culture.
Mohammed further DEGRADED Arabic culture.
You are mistaken because Philippines and Mexico are Christian nations but they are not European in character. Culture is more than religion. It includes the attitudes and traditions of the people as well.
Until the Protestant Reformation, Christianity meant the Catholic church and it did not exactly distinguish itself. Crusades were like Jihads. Let us not confuse today's situation with the entire history of Christianity.