Quote:
Originally Posted by Cowboy89
The state filled the vacuum in those countries too. The secondary urges dominate politics in Europe, whether it's the 35 hour work week, the non-firing legislation of those under 25, the state-ensured pensions, the government mandated vacation time, the list goes on and on. The belief that this life is it leads to a disturbing pattern of hedonism and later on civilizational decline. Funny thing is all of the above mentioned countries have fertility rates below that of replacement, some of them as low as 1.3-1.4. Meaning they'll manage to wipe their citizenry off the map in a few generations. They have lower fertility due to increased abortion rates and lower marriage rates as well. Who will pay for such lavish old-age security entitlements once two thirds of the populace is beyond retirement? As far as producing new generations of offspring is concerned, religious states seem to be doing a better job.
No people = No advancements in scientific knowledge
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um...so you are saying that a strong church helps create a larger population and stops hedonistic pleasures?
Why cant a government simply enact laws whereby parents get paid to have children or dont have to pay taxes for "x" years? (See Quebec for partial answers) The Hedonistic part I dont buy...simply look at the number of Priests getting nailed for past issues with children. Of course Im assuming that they got pleasure from what they were doing.
I simply cant imagine any era that was more in decline than when the church ruled with an iron fist!