Posted on 02/23/2006 11:40:15 AM PST by Wombat101
The Closing of Civilization in Europe
From the desk of Paul Belien on Wed, 2006-02-22 22:51
Europe’s current problems are entirely self-inflicted. This does not mean, however, that the result will be less catastrophic. By subverting the roots of its own Judeo-Christian culture – a process that started with the French Enlightenment – a religious and cultural vacuum was created at the heart of European civilization. The collapse of faith in its own values has, not surprisingly, led to a demographic collapse because a civilization that no longer believes in its own future also rejects procreation. Today, a new religion and culture is supplanting the old one. There is little one can do about it, but hope for a miracle.
America’s immigration problems pale in comparison with what confronts Europe. America’s major ethnic minorities – Blacks as well as Hispanics – are Christian, while the meanstream culture is also rooted in Christianity. In Europe a secularized post-Christian culture is facing a Muslim one. The secularized culture is hedonist and values only its present life, because it does not believe in an afterlife. This is why it will surrender when threatened with death because life is the only thing it has to lose. This is why it will accept submission without fighting for its freedom. Nobody fights for the flag of hedonism, not even the hedonists themselves.
One could also put it in a slightly different way: Europe lacks what America still has, namely the so-called “conservative reserves,” or as the German sociologist Arnold Gehlen explained over 30 years ago, “the reserves in national energy and self-confidence, primitiveness and generosity, wealth and potential of every kind.” Every so often I travel to the U.S. to recharge my batteries, and I am not the only European Conservative to do so. From time to time one needs to breathe the air of freedom before submerging again in the stifling atmosphere of Europe.
America’s “conservative reserves” are far stronger than Europe’s, because America, unlike secular Europe, has remained rooted to a larger extent in traditional Christian values. I do not doubt that if these values continue to decline in the U.S., American culture will collapse as European culture and civilisation have collapsed. However, America can learn from the impending European catastrophe, and avoid a similar fate.
The old European civilization – the pre-secular or the pre-post-Christian one – will live on in the U.S. If it perishes there too, mankind will relapse into the dark ages that are now taking hold of Europe, the cradle of Western civilization.
I suppose one could feel sad about all this, but sadness is not what I feel. One can feel compassion for those who die in accidents, fall in battle or get murdered (like the countless unborn children that perish every day) but can one pity those who have killed their own future for the pleasures of the present? Europe’s predicament, I repeat, is entirely self-inflicted. Not Islam is to blame. Secularism is.
The coming decade will witness the war between the values of Islam and the secular “values” of the decadent, hedonistic post-Marxist Left. We have seen the assassinations of Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh, last November’s prelude to the French civil war, the Danish cartoon case. This is just the beginning of the beginning. I do not consider myself a pessimist, merely a realist. It is quite clear who is going to lose – and whose fault that will be.
Flying Walloons? Could be..
Actually, come to think of it, I think the Walloons are a sorta-kinda German/Belgian mix (or is it Dutch/Belgian? I can never keep it straight), like a Malois (aka the German Shepheard).
Now THIS sounds like a party! :o
We want to hold on to traditions, but change is inevitable.
So I guess it is important to hold on to the traditions that matter - like respect for life, God, family, and our Constitution.
China's government is atheistic, but most of its people aren't. I've had several Chinese student workers over the years and not one has been an atheist and several of them have attended Christian churches during their stay here.
I sure would call China secular, and the several friends of mine who have been there would call it the same. I think Europe is headed for an obit unless they turn things around, but completely disagree that secularism is the cause.
They are still communists in China or don't you read the newspaper? The leaders of China belong to the Communist Party. There are no other parties allowed.
It certainly will, by birth rate alone France will be out-populated by muslims in less than 2 generations. You can bet that they won't be tolerant about it.
That's what we all do...hold on until we die, and hope that we passed something on. That's why things change from generation to generation...not all that pass on continues, or new generations add new stuff. It's just the way the world is.
China's population IS increasing. You have your facts wrong. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html#People
Muslim already live in China in its western provinces. This is basic stuff. Why don't more people have this knowledge? 1-2% of the population is muslim and the Han Chinese don't take any manure from them. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html#People
CIA Factbook says they are 90+% atheist. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html#People
I agree. I like looking at the big picture. It puts things in perspective.
"Why don't more people have this knowledge?"
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And why do so many jump to conclusions that are unwarranted? And why are they so quick to throw in an ad-hominem jab for no good reason? Sheesh....
I didn't say there were no muslims, I said wait till the muslims get to them. Europe has had a sizeable muslim population for decades and now its becoming a problem.
I think a lot of people struggle to stay in their own little snapshot part of the big picture.
China believes in its future. You don't have to be Christian to do that.
####Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 1%-2%, Christian 3%-4% note: officially atheist (2002 est.)####
It says they are officially atheist, which is true. That means the government is atheist. There's no way of really determining the religiousness of the population since faith in God is generally suppressed. But my experience with Chinese college students is that they aren't atheistic at all.
Interesting comment that will zoom right past most who read it.
Especially as you get older, there's a lot of satisfaction in seeing yourself as a small part of a long story, a story that includes the dead and the unborn, and not just those of us who happen to be up and at it here in February 2006. We can do a better job of appreciating and cherishing the social capital we received from our ancestors, preserving it as best we can, and passing it on.
However, you leave out one important point. When the Chinese people start to take their revenge on the "powers that be", it's going to get ugly and very very bloody for 10 to 20 years.
If the world can survive those years without any nuclear exchanges then it truly will be be the beginning of the Chinese century.
I worry these sentiments will just scare the remaining decent Europeans into emigrating or joining in the capitulation. Reagan succeeded with the polyannaesque slogan "It's Morning in America!" This guy talks like Jimmy "Malaise" Carter.
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