Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

Tom: Does Judiasm and early Christianity, as it changes/begins around the time of the Hellinic period, fit your model?

1. In the period in which the Jewish people are dominated by the Greek and Roman Empires, and by Hellinic culture, the Jews have some difficulty adapting to this era of newfound modernity, widespread abundance and "perverse" cosmopolitanism.

2. Although many Jews prosper during this early period of "globalization," ultimately some have significant ideological difficulties that cause them to devise and adopt "end times" variations to their theology -- which also notes the coming of a "savior."

3. Thus, this early example of globalization (rendered by the Greeks and Romans -- the "modernizers" of their time) ushers in a new period of religious discussion, consideration, fevor, diffusion and change.

(As not even a novice in these matters, please excuse any errors I have made in this portrayal and comparison.)

We must be very careful in participating in this Gap evolution.

Before talking, emphasize listening and reflecting on Gap peoples' questions on Western Core experiences and insights on the nature of religions and the relationships of secular institutions to peoples' regions.

The Hellenization of the Middle East in the century before Jesus began a process in which a religion's outspoken believers were expected to explain and defend their beliefs according to Greek logic and debate rules. Conflicts followed, and one of the reasons early Christians were persecuted by Rome was concern that they would encourage social and political conflict within the Empire at a difficult time.

After Constantine made Christianity the official Roman religion in hopes of encouraging unity and better social practices, he felt the need to adjudicate theological debates among the different Christian groups. Those groups were trying to use Greek techniques to understand their new religion. Rome forced decisions. The first dogma based Christian persecution of heretics soon followed and would be repeated for centuries under a series of secular institutions.

So, we should emphasize the effects of our historical experiences and insights on our current perspectives on the relationships of religions to society and to the secular institutions of the society. Emphasize the process. Don't promote the resultant product as a one size fits all solution.

Other civilizations over the centuries, without the West's history and culture, were able to accommodate mixes of religions in the same secular communities.

We should participate in the new religion dialogue within the Gap regions, not try to orchestrate it.

Interesting aspects of my scenerio above are:

1. It is a group of potential economic winners -- not losers -- who reject globalization/abundance during this time.

2. One of the "end times" anti-globalizlation/anti-abundance religions that emerges from this rejection is Christianity -- one of today's greatest and most widespread religions.

Currently, it would seem, these globalization dynamics (the rejection of which were the back-drop for Christianity?) are again in play.