A not so brilliant article on the demise of secular modernism

[Greybeard]

It's a bit of a rambler, - but an interesting view of what the future may hold.

 

http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=7913

[shoeshine]

It's a bit of a rambler, - but an interesting view of what the future may hold.

 

http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=7913

 

You should get out more, Greybeard!

[taxman]

Its a right exciting thread title as well, I'm shocked its only had 3 people view it

[Greybeard]

Its a right exciting thread title as well, I'm shocked its only had 3 people view it

 

Well I see my mistake now, - I didn't mention 'religion' in the title

 

However unlike the Matthew Pariss article, which merely restates what has been pretty obvious since 2003, Eric Kaufmann's article suggests an outcome that I suspect has not occurred at all to the rabid anti-religionists who infest this forum

[Greybeard]

You should get out more, Greybeard!

 

I do a few miles with dog every day, - hail, rain, snow...whatever. But the few people I meet on foot seem only to want to talk about the weather

[downtroad]

<white foam frothing from mouth> Grrrr.

 

Rhetoric to the extream...

 

Much will depend on how these ideological synergies are channelled by parties and electoral systems in different countries, but by the mid-21st century, the peak of secular European politics will be long past. As in America, politicians will need to stay on the right side of religious sentiment to ensure they are not outflanked by their opponents

 

Erm of course... but does it actually mean anything?

 

I mean "much will depend" he is not actually saying anthing there, of course "much will depend", but it's hardly even a vew point. Blah. You were correct "no so brilliant".

[Greybeard]

I mean "much will depend" he is not actually saying anthing there, of course "much will depend", but it's hardly even a vew point. Blah. You were correct "no so brilliant".

 

Yes - he's pussyfooting around the issues, among which are that religious communities wiil be demographically more successful than the secular population. And of course that politicians, if they are to get elected, will have to make increasing concessions to the religious communities.

 

A sharp swing to the right in the coming decades ?

[LordChaverly]

<white foam frothing from mouth> Grrrr.

 

Rhetoric to the extream...

 

 

 

Erm of course... but does it actually mean anything?

 

I mean "much will depend" he is not actually saying anthing there, of course "much will depend", but it's hardly even a vew point. Blah. You were correct "no so brilliant".

 

I think it is saying a lot - i.e. that the age of secularised European politics is coming to an end and that religious factionalism is becoming an increasingly potent and significant force. If he is right, then God help us all, as this trend could well lead to the kind of religious wars we saw in Europe several centuries ago.

[purdyamos]

I feel like a failure to my cause. We don't mention intelligent secularism enough among all the ranting god-dogma threads. But it's 2.41 am, after a Saturday night, and that article is mentally like trying to eat dry shredded wheat in my current state.