How a medieval church's obsession with marriage accidentally rewired human psychology and why it matters for everything from capitalism to your sense of self
All of this is true but the church was just adopting what was already culturally apparent amongst North Sea Germanic peoples, hence why it was contained to only the western Church. The Church was a vessel to be filled with our particulars, rather than the cause of our particulars.
The reason we are like this is because of our sea conquering ways, as it lends itself to the ability for small groups to colonise new lands.
Unfortunately, organizations based on the assumption of globally shared trust are trivially easy for those with more limited trust circles to subvert from the inside, if they are allowed to enter on an equal basis.
The church's universalism ended up having to deal with a globalised world population before it developed any antibodies for it, and so the same instincts that drove high trust non-kinship affinity based on principles rather than relations, wound up leading to the inability to defend against adversarial cultures with no qualms about taking advantage of the West's blindspots.
Other Eurasian societies have “institutions” like the monasteries and fraternities of Western Europe. Is it that these institutions are balanced with clan and familial ties?
Well, not yet and there's still time to make sure it won't die. But Islamification has to stop ASAP. Otherwise we'll all be going to Paradise even if we don't want to.
Of course the West IS weird. Only here has humanity opened the exit door from HETERONOMY into the possibility of AUTONOMY. Thr Greeks started it and we have ATTEMPTED to continue (with variable success) in the same vein. NOWHERE else on the planet has this fundamental rupture with past happened; nor will it happen. Islam will never be able to critique the hetetonomous reality of its sacred texts, to do so would ANNIHILATE its fundamental ontology AND the lives of 2 BILLION believers worldwide. Because Moslems DO believe it.
Interesting take, especially since you touched on both the good and bad of the shift.
The good: increased ability to think in abstract terms, notice commonality between different things, increased ability to categorize, more focus on individual meritocracy and individual rights.
The bad: reduced ability to understand context, notice relationships between different things, less holistic/systemic thinking, less focus on community and relationships.
It also brings up a very interesting set of questions that a lot of people will be afraid to ask. If whites have unique thought processes that contributed to our ability to advance the world (as we have increasingly done scientifically and technologically over the past 500 years), but we are becoming less and less tribalist, nationalist, and/or defensive of our own people, how do we maintain those unique benefits in the modern era? If our lack of tribal/ethnic consciousness leads us to outbreed and thus mix with people whose brains are genetically wired not to have those benefits? If we resurrect tribal/ethnic consciousness, to what extent will that destroy the unique differences we developed while being evolved away from tribalism?
Yes,a very interesting set of questions indeed. I've noticed a "push" nudging us to view ourselves as Italians, Irish, German etc and the "pushers" cloaking themselves in intellectual garments. Those that stab us to death seldom say things like " got that Ukrainian girl" or " this British guy did a racism to me officer." So for those that hate us the answer is obvious; we'll view you as a group all we want. We'll take your contributions just not you.
Will we lose a very near and dear part of our individualists mindset by organizing as one and not being fragmented?
You are right this is an interesting question. A debate to be had amongst our descendants as they navigate the world we leave them.
All of this is true but the church was just adopting what was already culturally apparent amongst North Sea Germanic peoples, hence why it was contained to only the western Church. The Church was a vessel to be filled with our particulars, rather than the cause of our particulars.
The reason we are like this is because of our sea conquering ways, as it lends itself to the ability for small groups to colonise new lands.
Excellent! One of the best essays I've read this year.
Thank you, very kind!
this honestly explains so much
Unfortunately, organizations based on the assumption of globally shared trust are trivially easy for those with more limited trust circles to subvert from the inside, if they are allowed to enter on an equal basis.
My experience as a North American in Japan in a nutshell. It is *hard*.
I’d never want to live there.
Very insightful read - as are so many of your pieces. Thank you, Celina!
Thank you :)
This is a really good article.
The church's universalism ended up having to deal with a globalised world population before it developed any antibodies for it, and so the same instincts that drove high trust non-kinship affinity based on principles rather than relations, wound up leading to the inability to defend against adversarial cultures with no qualms about taking advantage of the West's blindspots.
Fascinating! Explains a lot. Also means that cultural assimilation is in many cases impossible.
Other Eurasian societies have “institutions” like the monasteries and fraternities of Western Europe. Is it that these institutions are balanced with clan and familial ties?
Thanks. I was about to make the same point.
It is why ‘The West’ is dead.
Well, not yet and there's still time to make sure it won't die. But Islamification has to stop ASAP. Otherwise we'll all be going to Paradise even if we don't want to.
Excellent, superbly written and thought-provoking essay. (As a holistic intuitive, I paired the cow with the grass:)
Of course the West IS weird. Only here has humanity opened the exit door from HETERONOMY into the possibility of AUTONOMY. Thr Greeks started it and we have ATTEMPTED to continue (with variable success) in the same vein. NOWHERE else on the planet has this fundamental rupture with past happened; nor will it happen. Islam will never be able to critique the hetetonomous reality of its sacred texts, to do so would ANNIHILATE its fundamental ontology AND the lives of 2 BILLION believers worldwide. Because Moslems DO believe it.
Is it ok to culturally appropriate WEIRD psychology as a non?
Why not? As long as you do it consistently then you can. After all, in our physcology, you are an autonomous person.
Weird yes.
The vast majority of science has come from tge West.
The Catholic Church funded much of it and the arts.
Equality was here first, schools, hospitals,
So weird, yes.
But we aren't bad at least not as bad as Islam
Interesting take, especially since you touched on both the good and bad of the shift.
The good: increased ability to think in abstract terms, notice commonality between different things, increased ability to categorize, more focus on individual meritocracy and individual rights.
The bad: reduced ability to understand context, notice relationships between different things, less holistic/systemic thinking, less focus on community and relationships.
It also brings up a very interesting set of questions that a lot of people will be afraid to ask. If whites have unique thought processes that contributed to our ability to advance the world (as we have increasingly done scientifically and technologically over the past 500 years), but we are becoming less and less tribalist, nationalist, and/or defensive of our own people, how do we maintain those unique benefits in the modern era? If our lack of tribal/ethnic consciousness leads us to outbreed and thus mix with people whose brains are genetically wired not to have those benefits? If we resurrect tribal/ethnic consciousness, to what extent will that destroy the unique differences we developed while being evolved away from tribalism?
Yes,a very interesting set of questions indeed. I've noticed a "push" nudging us to view ourselves as Italians, Irish, German etc and the "pushers" cloaking themselves in intellectual garments. Those that stab us to death seldom say things like " got that Ukrainian girl" or " this British guy did a racism to me officer." So for those that hate us the answer is obvious; we'll view you as a group all we want. We'll take your contributions just not you.
Will we lose a very near and dear part of our individualists mindset by organizing as one and not being fragmented?
You are right this is an interesting question. A debate to be had amongst our descendants as they navigate the world we leave them.
I read this book when it came out. It’s a must read eye opener.