I'm not religious in the least, and I find both immoral.
We've never had a war of religion you dumb_$$
(Directed at the article writer, and not yourself, unless you agree with him.)
I thought it was a good article which described the culture conflict well.
I guess we should have let that religious fanatic Adolph Hitler pulverize Great Britain into oblivion.
This is simple bull-s**t. It is the EUROPEANS that have a history of endemic religious wars! Hell, many of the colonists that came to North America were FLEEING the European religious fanaticism. Our founders were more than aware of this, and sought to allow for a yeasty exchange of religious ideas - yes in politics - because it is only in an open forum of debate/persuasion, and competition that actual social violence can be avoided. The libs want you to think that it is necessary to REMOVE the religious from the public square to avoid conflict, but in truth it is the opposite. Again, just look at European history. It was during the 30 year war that persecutions resulted when competing religious views were pushed underground resulting in a pressure-cooker of eventual violence.The Europeans have NO moral authority on this subject.
That said, THE ECONOMIST is pretty dense with articles and, unlike US mags, light on advertisements. Its 'take' is definitely European. Its okay if you take it with a grain of salt and realize where its coming from, literally AND figuratively. It will keep you more informed about World Affairs better than any domestic rag. Subscription is expensive though.
"Most European politicians would rather talk about sexually transmitted diseases than their own faith in God. The hugely bulky European constitution doesn't mention Christianity."
Europe has become 'a-God' to a large degree. Neither God, nor God-given values enter into much of what happens politically in Europe today. The European politicians and 'religionists' would impose their 'values' on us in the USA and continuously attack us for whatever faith in God remains in this country.
As to wars, Europe and the Middle East are the only parts of the world that have a continuing history of 'wars of religion'.
Looks like wishful thinking, doesn't it?
In America, the relationship among the various religions has never been more harmonious, i.e. amoung the various Christian religions, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddahism, New Ageity, et al. Catholics, Protestants, and Jews get along very well and tend to be mutually supportive.
It is true that anti-Muslim sentiment, in various levels of intensity, is present. This too was non-existent before 9/11.
The real conflict in America is between the American people and the Left.
Secularism--or whatever you want to call it--is the religion of the Left. It is a sinister religion (by definition), based in large measure on atheistic Marxism and offering nothing but half-baked ideas, platitudes, confusion, decadence, a peculiar form of materialism, and suicide.
Maybe that's what these people at The Economist mean by America's intensifying religious wars.
Maybe that's what they're rooting for.
The Economist isn't too bad but being British they typically have a axe to grind and they are VERY PRO EU to a fault.
"Most European politicians would rather talk about sexually transmitted diseases than their own faith in God. The hugely bulky European constitution doesn't mention Christianity."
Doesn't THAT TELLL YOU SOMETHING?
Perhaps the Godless are not in good standing with God?
Maybe some punishment is happening?
Nothing more than the classic liberal view that "we are right and you religious nuts are wrong".
God help them, because they are in for actual religious wars when Islam decides to impose its beliefs on their countries.
I love how the author makes sure to say:
"The hugely bulky European constitution doesn't mention Christianity."
But makes no mention of the fact that ours doesn't either, thereby implying that it does, which further implies that we have religion written into the basis of our government. From there the inference is that that is why we are "religious fanatics."
You can say a lot with what you DON'T say, sometimes.
Why? Because people are attacking Christians.
Europe has had a whole series of religious wars and persecutions. As far as I know, America has had none, throughout its history.
There has certainly been religious prejudice. There used to be signs in windows, "No Irish need apply," or "No Jews welcome." But there have never been organized religious wars or killings like the Thirty Years War, the British Civil War, or for that matter the French Revolution and the various Communist revolutions, which took great pleasure in exterminating Christians of various kinds.
It takes a peculiar kind of ignorant marxist mentality to call a quarrel over the rules of when it is permissible to filibuster as a "religious war."
Similarly, America's division of powers means that the courts are constantly being asked to give firm answers to profound questions such as when life begins and ends. Europeans fudge these issues, by leaving them more often to parliaments to find political compromises.
That's an interesting take on things, but we've exported some of our judicial ideas to Europe. Some countries have Supreme Courts, as I believe does Europe itself. A deeper cultural difference is at fault, or maybe it's a question of timing: Europe made its arrangements on some of these issues before judicial activism became common or acceptable there, whereas courts have tended to have or take more power here, and were heavily involved when questions like abortion came under debate.
In Europe today, the courts, bureaucracies, and legislatures tend to be controled by the same political elite. It works together, and there's far less ability for ordinary citizens to influence the machine. Given the silence and passivity of the people, courts in Europe today probably could get away with a lot. That same impotence of the public, though, allows the ruling elite to have its way through other channels.
Seriesly hugh.