Lots of interesting speculation, but without an anchor.
Europe isn’t just Moses or Homer. Europe was a combination of Athens, Greece, and Rome—but the dominant cultural influence was Christianity.
As the interviewer’s question suggests, however, Venner ignores Christianity. And his response? “Because of His claim of divinity, and His universality, Jesus is apart and on another level entirely. He himself says that His kingdom is not of this world.”
Well, yes. But that is not to say that Christianity has no impact on the culture of Europe and the West.
He is correct in pointing out that “nobility” has its positive aspects. Nobles are trained to care for their dependents: “Noblesse oblige.” That ideal is not always or even often put into practice, but then neither are most other ideals.
On the other hand, freedom is hardly an American invention. It stems ultimately from Christianity. Islam demands submission. Allah is totally arbitrary, and his followers must do whatever he says. The Jewish and Christian God is good and just, and His followers are given the gift of free will, to love and obey God or to disobey and turn away.
The decay of Europe, and also the decay of America, are owing to the same problem: the loss of Christian values as the leading cultural and social determinant.
Yes, I agree with you. In France or Germany, for example, — I am no expert on either but I’ve seen stuff on the Internet — everywhere you look you see Christian history, and only marginally, and for pure entertainment, pagan classics.
The problem with a “nobility” is that it requires nobility.