After travelling through Morocco and Portugal, and attending conferences in London, I found myself asking a simple question: can a nation remain coherent if it no longer believes in its own culture?
Excellent piece, thank you. Big problems arise in a country like NZ when the "founding" culture becomes a minority, as has happened here and will continue to decrease. Those of Eurocentric origin and loosely affiliated Judeo-Christian culture are already a minority and while TPM have flexed their political muscles they are an even smaller minority, and the Indian and Chinese immigrants are yet to coalesce into political groupings. We certainly have our adherents to hard multiculturalism (one has only to bring to mind the eye-rolling Chloe Swarbrick) but I think your definition of muddled multiculturalism is spot on. I think many adherents of the latter definitely have both "a deficient appreciation of history or an ideological adherence to the relativistic ‘all cultures are equal’ maxim" with no ability to think their positions through to the actual implications. I think we are heading into very choppy seas and at nearly 80 I probably won't be here to experience them, but I do fear for my grandchildren.
A brilliant piece of observation. We have grown up in the best of times here in New Zealand. I pity what the current crop of Kiwi kids are going to be confronted with as society is sectionized into race and identity.
Really great piece. I was at ARC as well actually! Funny!
I think one of the issues is you are pointing out is education. I studied political science (really a lot of political philosophy) and was educated in Christian schools until grad school. That being said, I learned about postmodernism, intersectionality, epistemology etc. Most people today don’t understand that you can’t just get “human rights” from anywhere. You need to have a basis for them (along with things like knowledge, and therefore science). Yet today people will just assert they have a “right” to this or that and then invite people into their culture or country that want to subvert them; and this all in the name of multiculturalism lol, muddled indeed
Sorry we missed each other at ARC … granted, a big venue and a lot of people. I’ll be there next year so if you, let’s connect. As you rightly note, human rights as we understand them (as not shared or accepted by all cultures) came from something - they have a foundation and are not just some arbitrary creation. Btw my post grad studies were in political philosophy 👍
Yes, let’s definitely connect at the next one. And agreed. And that’s great; it makes sense with the clarity of your writing. Can’t wait for the next one.
Culture is what we ultimately 'practise', DO, Lk 8:21, therefore, creating the right tradition must ultimately be centred on God's Heart, His Purpose, His Will & His Word!
That is for us to discover or as Jesus said, "Seek FIRST God's Kingdom & His Righteousness"! Mt 6:33 & similarly, Mt 7:7-11, Mt 28:18-20
This is man's portion of responsibility to fulfil in the accomplishment of God's Will as in keeping the Commandment in the Garden! Jn 14:21-24, Mt 28:20
It is because Christians have not understood this, Hosea 4:6, & instead were just focused on 'spiritual salvation' that Satan could invade & take away 'sovereignty, territory & people', that God had been working to reclaim through the Great Commission, the physical world, as Satan took Jesus' body due to the 'faithlessness of the people', as so today!
"Father forgive them for they know NOT what they DO"! Lk 23:34
When Jesus said, "It is finished", he was only referring to the extent of 'spiritual salvation', not physical salvation! Rom 8:21-23, Rom 7:21-25
That will be accomplished at the Second Coming of Christ, hence the reason for a Second Coming!
New Zealand should be a 'monoculture' by virtue of the Treaty of Waitangi! "Now we are one people'"! Captain William Hobson. Under the Crown, meaning Christ! Mt 28:18-20
Queen Victoria 'discipled' New Zealand, Mt 28:18-20, to become a Christian nation! That is the internal & external meaning of the Treaty!
We have 'ONE law for all', based on our Judeo-Christian 'heritage', which includes 'laws & jurisprudence' centring on God's Word, Mt 28:20, & an 'absolute' worldview which Christians have & are failing to uphold, "So depart from me you evildoers, I never knew you"! Mt 7:21-23
This is Jesus speaking to us today, & certainly in the Afterlife as well! Mt 12:47-50
God is Seeking his Kingdom, NOT A Democracy, not a Republic, His KINGDOM!
If we fail to give it to Him, then we will be 'cast into the outer darkness (of regret) to wail & gnash our teeth'! Mt 22:11-14, Rev 22:14-15, Rev 21:8
In the accomplishment of God's Will, we were given a portion of responsibility which includes working some things out for ourselves, & then to TAKE ACTION! Phil 2:12, Rom 8:17, Heb 5:8-14, Dan 11:32, Rev 20:12, Rom 2:13
Humanity & therefore all cultures must submit to Christ, Mt 10:38-39, Mt 28:20, being the 'head & not the tail'!
From there it is easy to understand what we must DO!
Excellent piece, thank you. Big problems arise in a country like NZ when the "founding" culture becomes a minority, as has happened here and will continue to decrease. Those of Eurocentric origin and loosely affiliated Judeo-Christian culture are already a minority and while TPM have flexed their political muscles they are an even smaller minority, and the Indian and Chinese immigrants are yet to coalesce into political groupings. We certainly have our adherents to hard multiculturalism (one has only to bring to mind the eye-rolling Chloe Swarbrick) but I think your definition of muddled multiculturalism is spot on. I think many adherents of the latter definitely have both "a deficient appreciation of history or an ideological adherence to the relativistic ‘all cultures are equal’ maxim" with no ability to think their positions through to the actual implications. I think we are heading into very choppy seas and at nearly 80 I probably won't be here to experience them, but I do fear for my grandchildren.
A brilliant piece of observation. We have grown up in the best of times here in New Zealand. I pity what the current crop of Kiwi kids are going to be confronted with as society is sectionized into race and identity.
Thanks Robin and I too worry the society we are leaving for the next generation.
Really great piece. I was at ARC as well actually! Funny!
I think one of the issues is you are pointing out is education. I studied political science (really a lot of political philosophy) and was educated in Christian schools until grad school. That being said, I learned about postmodernism, intersectionality, epistemology etc. Most people today don’t understand that you can’t just get “human rights” from anywhere. You need to have a basis for them (along with things like knowledge, and therefore science). Yet today people will just assert they have a “right” to this or that and then invite people into their culture or country that want to subvert them; and this all in the name of multiculturalism lol, muddled indeed
Sorry we missed each other at ARC … granted, a big venue and a lot of people. I’ll be there next year so if you, let’s connect. As you rightly note, human rights as we understand them (as not shared or accepted by all cultures) came from something - they have a foundation and are not just some arbitrary creation. Btw my post grad studies were in political philosophy 👍
Yes, let’s definitely connect at the next one. And agreed. And that’s great; it makes sense with the clarity of your writing. Can’t wait for the next one.
Culture is what we ultimately 'practise', DO, Lk 8:21, therefore, creating the right tradition must ultimately be centred on God's Heart, His Purpose, His Will & His Word!
That is for us to discover or as Jesus said, "Seek FIRST God's Kingdom & His Righteousness"! Mt 6:33 & similarly, Mt 7:7-11, Mt 28:18-20
This is man's portion of responsibility to fulfil in the accomplishment of God's Will as in keeping the Commandment in the Garden! Jn 14:21-24, Mt 28:20
It is because Christians have not understood this, Hosea 4:6, & instead were just focused on 'spiritual salvation' that Satan could invade & take away 'sovereignty, territory & people', that God had been working to reclaim through the Great Commission, the physical world, as Satan took Jesus' body due to the 'faithlessness of the people', as so today!
"Father forgive them for they know NOT what they DO"! Lk 23:34
When Jesus said, "It is finished", he was only referring to the extent of 'spiritual salvation', not physical salvation! Rom 8:21-23, Rom 7:21-25
That will be accomplished at the Second Coming of Christ, hence the reason for a Second Coming!
New Zealand should be a 'monoculture' by virtue of the Treaty of Waitangi! "Now we are one people'"! Captain William Hobson. Under the Crown, meaning Christ! Mt 28:18-20
Queen Victoria 'discipled' New Zealand, Mt 28:18-20, to become a Christian nation! That is the internal & external meaning of the Treaty!
We have 'ONE law for all', based on our Judeo-Christian 'heritage', which includes 'laws & jurisprudence' centring on God's Word, Mt 28:20, & an 'absolute' worldview which Christians have & are failing to uphold, "So depart from me you evildoers, I never knew you"! Mt 7:21-23
This is Jesus speaking to us today, & certainly in the Afterlife as well! Mt 12:47-50
God is Seeking his Kingdom, NOT A Democracy, not a Republic, His KINGDOM!
If we fail to give it to Him, then we will be 'cast into the outer darkness (of regret) to wail & gnash our teeth'! Mt 22:11-14, Rev 22:14-15, Rev 21:8
In the accomplishment of God's Will, we were given a portion of responsibility which includes working some things out for ourselves, & then to TAKE ACTION! Phil 2:12, Rom 8:17, Heb 5:8-14, Dan 11:32, Rev 20:12, Rom 2:13
Humanity & therefore all cultures must submit to Christ, Mt 10:38-39, Mt 28:20, being the 'head & not the tail'!
From there it is easy to understand what we must DO!
Well explained differences in outlook.
Safe travels
Back home now. Was an amazing trip.