[macbee]

I thought too the analysis of the origins of liberal democracy as springing from Christian religious wars in the 17th c was paticularly worth repeating at this time.

Hmmm... Not sure which Christian religious wars in the 17th c he was referring to, but I would think that the French and American Revolutions (neither of which had much of a religious component) in the "18th c" were far more seminal in the development of liberal democracy in the West.

That whole "religious wars" seems to be something of a canard. Which wars since, say, 1700 have had a strong religious component? Not many, IMHO.

[bvw]

Which wars since, say, 1700 have had a strong religious component?

The all do. Here are some OBVIOUS ones:

• The American Revolution ... ever hear of the "Great Awakening"? Well, without it no America. Jonathen Edwards, and and any Presbryterian preacher ... "Give them Watts, boys, give them Watts."

• The Civil War ... abolitionist movement was relogiously based.

• World War I ... the first Jewish War of modern times. Why? The reaction of Jews to oppression and pogroms in the Pale, the reaction of Austrians, Germans and Russians to the attempts by German Jews to look like Germans -- a mitosis along the axis of overweaning pride in the Fatherland.

• World War II .. the second Jewish War. culimated in the creation of Israel.

[bvw]

They ALL do. Every one. Just look and you'll find. Barb Tuchman looked but she didn't see what was in front of her. She wrote the best histories to date, imo, nevertheless. In all of history -- hers the best.

[MEG33]

http://class.et.byu.edu/mfg202/lecturenotes/lecture8.htm

ABSOLUTISM AND RELIGIOUS WARS (1600'S)...17th Century