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Entry: Is There Conservatism Beyond Christianity? (or how to book a mental vacation in Athens or Valhalla) Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/is_there_conservatism_beyond_christianity_or_how_to_book_a_mental_vacation#23219 Post contents: Could it be that we have here some confusion about what is meant by "conservative"? What I have in mind with this suggestion is the observation that the small-central-government form of "conservatism." that originally appeared in late 17th century England has actually been the most revolutionary form of political organization history knows of. The causality was simple: once government removed controls on the economy, the creative competition of the free market unleashed Englishmen's creativity, and the result was the industrial revolution and the biggest changes that have ever occurred in people's everyday lives. In controlled economies, such as mercantilist France, this kind of destructive progress could never have happened. Could the above explain some of the dilemma of Christian (and other) conservatives? They want small government and great individual freedoms, and at the same time they are also attracted to traditional lifestyles. Yet, the freedom created by small government is bound to produce technological developments that destroy those lifestyles. Maybe people should face more directly the fact that what is commonly called "conservatism" is actually immensely revolutionary. Sent at: 2008 10 13