Posted on 03/07/2011 9:00:56 AM PST by Eurotwit
In the West we are doing our best to destroy our Christian heritage but in China, Chinese intellectuals are coming around to the view that it is precisely this heritage that has made the West so successful.
Former editor of the Sunday Telegraph, Dominic Lawson, in a review in the Sunday Times of Niall Ferguson's new book, ‘Civilisation: The West and the Rest’, carries a quote from a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in which he tries to account for the success of the West, to date.
He said: “One of the things we were asked to look into was what accounted for the success, in fact, the pre-eminence of the West all over the world.
“We studied everything we could from the historical, political, economic, and cultural perspective. At first, we thought it was because you had more powerful guns than we had.
“Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system.
“But in the past twenty years, we have realised that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity. That is why the West is so powerful.
“The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics. We don’t have any doubt about this.”
Note the source. It isn't from a religious leader, or some religious think-tank. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is an instrument of the Chinese Communist government which spends a not inconsiderable amount of time and money persecuting Christians and is officially atheistic.
If this is the conclusion it has come to, maybe Europe needs to reconsider whether it mightn't be an idea to encourage rather than eradicate Christianity.
Incidentally, just to drive home the point, Lawson also refers to this data point in Ferguson's book: Wenzhou, the Chinese city which is rated as the most entrepreneurial in the country, is also home to 1,400 churches.
Lawson refers to a quote in the book from a prominent Wenzhou business leader, a Mr Hanping Zhang, who argues that “an absence of trust had been one of the main factors holding China back; but he feels he can trust his fellow Christians because he knows that they will be honest in their dealings with him”.
It has long been accepted that Christianity is one of the core elements of Western civilisation; it is too little understood that it is also one of the secrets of the stunning success of that civilisation.
You make a good point.
Human welfare is not only about taking care of yourself.
It’s about taking care of the the next generation.
And, making sure there is one...
You seem to be one of those that worship at the later of division.
God knows me many Othodox do btw.
Look at the post below you.
People like you might not do the work of Satan.
But, he is for sure snickering...
Alter of division.
Depends on context, focus and some other things.
I do seem to be, by God’s Grace, pretty good at pulling the lid off of
white-washed awfulness.
I prefer unity.
pseudo Unity at any price and without support of truth
is like peace at any price
not peace; not worth the price.
Yes it is.. Which is why if the left is to replace the system with their own, they need to eradicate it’s foundation..
Indeed.
One of the things that Weber refers to is the drive behind supporting a large family.
Would sure motivate me, alright.
However, our era has a lot of escapee dads.
Mohammed <---------------> Joseph Smith:
Lone "Special Prophet" of God receives visitation from Angel Gabriel, who dictates "third testement" because previous worshippers got it wrong.
Teachings of "new revelation" result in highly restrictive, legalistic new religion featuring polygamy.
What was that about Catholics again???
Sorry, but I’m afraid the so-called intellectuals & profartssors are busy copying others’ works and can’t get to your comments for the moment, and for ever.
I would agree with you, overall. However, God's intenions was never for one country to be Christian. He meant for all countries to be Christians.
America has a long history of Christianity without persecution, but not without problems. And Christians, of course, were at one time, persecuted in Europe which culminated in the establishment of America.
Christianity is like a group of fish swimming upstream in a fallen world.
Many countries in the world, that have various levels of successes or living the Christian life depends on the heritage of that country. For example, the non-Christians in America, may have been descendants of Christians families. And therefore, the animosity may not be as great as those in countries that don't have Christian heritage.
The Christian people who lives in the Rwanda have much to overcome in the area of forgiveness, etc. after experiencing mass genocide. But there are Christians there who are working against a much tougher tide when trying to affect change in their own country. Change against corruption, etc.
And lets not forget, that even Christianity can become an ineffective religion. One only has to look at issues of child abuse in the various Catholic churches that have occured recently (or more accurately, come to light).
In other words, we can't look at the present day situation and gurantee the future with it. God's intention was not for the US to stand as a beacon, but rather for all nations to stand as a beacon of light.
Christianity has taken a hold in China. And there is a big uphill battle going on there. China has been steeped in superstition and the Christians are up against that. But I believe the torch has started there. And the China of 2025, 2050, etc. will be a different China than today and especially yesterday.
God has truely blessed America. But his intention was not to stop just in America and say his work is finished. Its not finished.
It is GOD himself ( not the will of man ) that will unify the body of Christ ( his church ) in his time and in his way.
(841) “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” (Catholic Catechism, pgs. 242, 243)
(841) “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” (Catholic Catechism, pgs. 242, 243)
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