What does 'barbaric' mean? Not a howling horde of nomads intent on rape and pillage. It describes a group, society or culture which has unity of thought and purpose, a meritocratic system, loyalty, an ascetic lifestyle and a single-minded determination to achieve its stated goals.
For the ancient Jews, the goal was escaping oppression and finding a land where they could settle and worhip their God in peace. For early Christians and Muslims, the goal, built into both religions from the outset, was to convert the entire world to their faith. Some of both groups still adhere to those values and goals.
The barbarian values are also the values of elite military cadres such as the USMC and SAS. But as well, they are the values of climate change and environmental activists and the Chinese government.
They are not bad values, and those who adhere to them can achieve great things. The Roman Empire was barbaric in its beginnings, and was a great force for peace and technological advance at first. But in the end, it became civilised, then corrupt, and it fell.
Corruption is the dark side of civilisation as crulety is the dark side of barbarism. Both can be avoided, if care is taken.
Barbarism, like civilisation, is not always good in its outcomes. Both Christianity and Islam helped to establish vital and brilliant cultures. But in doing so, they just as often destroyed others. The actions of Christian missionaries in Africa and South America were unforgivable. So were the actions of the firstTaliban rule in Afghanistan -we will have to see how they have developed their ideas as they take over again.
The point of the essay is not that religions need to be grown out of, but that our knowledge and conception of the Universe has outgrown traditional, anthropocentric, geocentric religious thought. I have never judged a person on their faith, only their behaviour. Good and decent people I have known may share the name of their religion with autocrats or psychopaths, without necessarily sharing all of the same beliefs.
If I'm honest, I feel that in order to meet and deal with the environmental challenges we now face, as a species, we need to do so with a more barbarian attitude. United, single-minded, disregarding discomfort and tolerating no dissent, giving the leadership to those with the knowledge and skills we need.
A final point. To criticise and analyse is not to condemn. As I point out in the essay, I'm not for or against anything or anyone, merely curious about what they believe and why.
Don't go all Woke on me, Jennifer, you're too intelligent to be a duckspeaker.
