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Quote of the Day: Are We a Great Civilization in Decline?
“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.” — Will Durant
Many civilizations have indeed come and gone, giving in to decadence, tyrannical rule, mismanagement and a lack of purpose or direction.
But when we look at the troubles of the United States, we have to wonder about our own direction? Are these times only a blip in the development of this young country? Or does the lack of religious belief, the prevalence of moral relativism, the move toward socialism, or naivete about the fragility of a democracy, all endanger our existence?
Is there a chance we can change direction and resurrect the foundational beliefs of this country? What would it take?
Published in Culture
I think that we’re doing it here, at Ricochet.
But you need to understand that the Great Awakenings were Christian revivals. If you’re going to put your hope in a Great Awakening, you have to be willing to serious consider the claim that Jesus is the Risen Lord.
I do not think that we have any plausible foundation on which to rebuild, other than the Resurrection of Jesus.
We are not going to adopt the Mosaic Law, or Islam. The “awakenings” of the so-called Enlightenment were disasters, from the reign of terror, to Napoleon, to Communism, to Hitler, and now to the Wokeists. The pro-Enlightenment folks think that the amazing advances made by the US, and to a lesser extent by the British empire, were the result of their libertarian philosophy. I think that they are wrong about this. That philosophy led directly to the Nazis, and the Communists, and now the post-modern neo-Marxists whose strange theories underlie Wokeism.
It is very, very difficult for an unbeliever to consider that the life of Jesus could be true. I’ve been there. I had a long secular-atheist period, 18 years as an adult, and I was extremely hostile to the Christian message.
Interestingly, Konrad Adenauer, who was the first Chancellor of West Germany (1949-1963) is reported by Billy Graham to have said that the Resurrection of Jesus is the most important thing in the world. Graham’s account (here) is:
I’ll also add a skewed view of wealth. It’s almost like they think it’s there to be found, and if someone else finds it, they keep it from the rest of us.
On the message board I “moderate” (edits mine to avoid swearing)
You can become wealthy being a good person. To become a billionaire, a lot of people have to be [fornicate, past tense] over (competitors, under developed countries and their resources, child labor,[fornicate as a gerund] over employees, arguing for unnecessary tax cuts that blow huge holes in needed programs for people, etc etc). You have to operate in a de sensitized bubble of social clubs, societies, and so forth so all that [excrement] doesnt bother you.
I’m a believer, and I think Jesus lived. But there’s only the one G-d. My messiah is due any day. Just sayin’ . . .
And riches don’t just show up in dollars and cents, do they. It isn’t just what we acquire, but how we acquire it. I won’t let people take away my rights to satisfy their delusions, either. Thanks, @jeffhawkins.
Hey, me too!
I always find it a little odd when non-believers can know the Christian message about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and not see the Messianic Age as a pivot point in human history. Here’s this Jewish peasant — a nobody born into poverty. He ministers for three years and then receives a Roman send-off via the Cross. And shortly afterward (during the lifespan of the apostles), the Christian message reaches the ends of the earth (as far east as India, at least) and the Christian West dominates the world in advancing not just science and reason (St. Thomas Aquinas being the ultimate reasoner), but the dignity of human life into the Age of the Church. Seems like evidence to me.
Can’d dispute the point. Nor is it inconsistent with centralization where fools govern like gods.
I think of my great grandfather, for whom I am named. He was born in upper New York state in 1835. His parents had come from Ireland about 1805. He came out to Illinois, possibly to work as a muleskinner on the Chicago and Michigan canal, which opened in 1848.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_and_Michigan_Canal
He worked as a constable in Peru-LaSalle IL and in a glass factory. He went back to New York about 1860 to marry my great grandmother. Two of his brothers joined the Union Army in the 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He stayed in New York state until the end of the war, then returned to Illinois to farm. They had 12 children, 9 sons. As each son grew old enough to marry, he gave him a farm, requiring 50% to be repaid. With the money he bought more land. Eventually most of the farms around Odell IL were owned by his children. He retired to town in a big white house in which he died in 1905. The Catholic church in Odell, St Paul’s, has two stained glass windows as you enter. The one on the left was donated by Mr and Mrs Michael Kennedy. That on the right, was donated by Mr and Mrs John Ferguson, my grandmother’s parents.
One the day Michael Kennedy quit his glass factory job to return to marry his Ellen, he made himself a glass cane. I have that cane. All his children grew to adulthood. Farm life was by far the healthiest in those days. His two brothers that entered the army both died in the war. one of measles which was epidemic in army camps. The other was wounded at Vicksburg and died of his wounds.
Remarkable story, @MichaelKennedy. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I read somewhere that some states are going to celebrate Native American Day instead of Columbus Day. OK, mainly it is S Dakota, otherwise cities:
https://time.com/4968067/indigenous-peoples-day-columbus-day-cities/
You’d think the Italian-Americans would celebrate Columbus, @eridemus! Although it they’ve accepted being Americans, they wouldn’t identify with being Italian.
In California, it’s “Indigenous People’s Day.”
Someone should have a contest with categories: The Most Outrageous Definition of an American Holiday; the Most Destructive Change to the American Ethos; the Most Insulting Law to the American People . . . okay, I’m good for now . . .
I won’t celebrate it. I wouldn’t want to participate in cultural appropriation, even if I am more Native American than Elizabeth Warren.
Maybe to honor the Aztecs, someone will cut out a heart and eat it.
I identify mildly as an Italian and a Pole. Dad’s grandparents immigrated from Italy, Mom’s from Poland.
Surprisingly, I identified pretty strongly with The Sopranos, meaning that I fit quite comfortably inside their culture. Not the crime part, but the food and family and language and weddings and funerals part. They were very much like my cousins in Jersey. I was born in the Italian ghetto in South Philly, but left at age 2, so I was surprised that the culture was so familiar to me.
That would be a great book title…or band name.
Do you believe that He rose from the dead, as He said He would? Do you believe His claim to be the Messiah, which He made in response to Peter’s statement that He was?
Jerry, I’m going to answer nope to both of your questions, hoping you don’t see that as invitation to explain to me why I’m wrong. I’d prefer not to have a religious discussion on this post, and didn’t feel I could leave you comment without saying something.
Could you describe the type of “Great Awakening” that you would like to see, which would not involve the Christian faith? Our exchange about this began with your response to Arahant’s comment about a Great Awakening, which indicated that you were interested in “lay[ing] the groundwork” for such an event. You may have something very different in mind.
I think we’ve been in decline for some 20 years. I think this promise of free trade has been a mirage. I certainly bought into it. There is certainly a balance between free trade and some protection of one’s economy that makes sense. Shipping all our manufacturing jobs to China, increased third world immigration, and a general sense of American guilt has put us on a slow decline. Can it be turned around? Hard to say, but it won’t be instantaneous.
No. I just live the best possible life I can lead, being a good Jew, serving G-d, and I’ll let Mashiach take care of the rest.