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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#23287 Post contents: I thought Mr. Havers piece was a very timely and thought-provoking one. I'm glad that he "names names": GRECE, de Benoist, Oliver, etc. in exploring this sort of European New Right thinking. Most of the European New Right is simply ignored by the "mainstream" conservatives of today. I also appreciate Havers dismantling of pro-pagan arguments by noting the hidden agendas of Straussians and Catholic Straussians who seem sympathetic to them. I came away from the article, however, thinking that Havers left two items about neo-paganism unmentioned. First, he seems favorable to the idea of egalitarianism that Christianity spreads. Many on the Right, and not just neo-pagans, have noted how a tendency towards egalitarianism very quickly becomes a kind of radical egalitarianism favored by the French Revolution or Maoists and other radical egalitarian Leftists. Nature has created hierarchies, which old time Christians once understood and respected. Second, the neo-pagans charge Christianity with promoting dysgenics. One only need read the latest Buchanan work or study from the National Policy Institute to know where we are heading demographically. This was left unmentioned in the Havers article, and it does no good to either ignore the issue or try to dismiss it. The egalitarianism and universalism of Christianity, it seems, often does lend itself to a kind of fervent racial Leftism on the part of many Christians, i.e., "it makes no difference what the demographic composition of America, Europe, Australia, etc. are, so long as we're all Christians." The Sunic book mentioned by others, "Against Democracy and Equality: The European New Right", with foreword by Dr. Gottfried devotes a chapter to the neo-pagans. I should note I'm not in agreement with Sunic on everything, but it is still an interesting read. He sums up the neo-pagan critique of Christianity on pages 93 -94 stating: "By cutting themselves from European polytheistic roots, and by accepting Christianity, Europeans gradually began to adhere to the vision of the world that emphasized the equality of souls and the importance of spreading God's gospel to *all* peoples, regardless of creed, race or language (Paul; Galatians 3:28). For his part, De Benoist sees in Christian universalism a form of "Bolshevism" of antiquity, and notes that in order to fully grasp the meaning of modern egalitarian doctrines, particularly Marxism, one must first trace their origins to Christianity." The neo-pagans argue that by tying their beliefs of the sacred with the particular (that is, the European people), they offer a less dysgenic worldview. I do not find the argument convincing as it may just as well lapse, as Havers noted, into New Age paganism of the Leftist variety. Yet on the other hand, the points they raise are still valid: today's Christianity no longer defends Western Man, as Western Man. Sent at: 2008 10 13