Louis Dupre on American Religion
October 15, 2011
OK, I know that most of this talk is about something else (The Christian Identity of Europe), but I know that very few people have time to watch this whole video (though it is interesting in its own right). But the last give and take in he Q & A is really interesting (actually the whole Q & A is good). Someone (Jean-Luc Marion?) asks a question at 1:18 that I think will be of interest to Vox Nova readers.
“How is it, in God’s name, possible that people swallow this?”
If you have the time, some background for his comments at the end are sprinkled throughout the presentation. He often uses America as a counterpoint when talking about European identity.
Brett Salkeld is a doctoral student in theology at Regis College in Toronto. He is a father of three (so far) and husband of one.
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6 Comments
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Yes. That is Jean-Luc Marion. (What is it about big time intellectuals always dressing identically the same?)
Good stuff!
Sam
As to gigantic topics like the “Christian Identity of Europe”, it is hard to know what a reasonable reply would even be, given the scope. A simple “no”, is utterly wrong historically and of course aesthetically. But a blunt “yes” is a weasle-word cop-out for in regards to a lot of conflicting evidence and developments. It is the sort of topic that intellectuals well past their prime entertain themselves with, fancying all the potential Spenglerian animadversions attendant with the topic. (Check out my erstwhile seminarian confrere Paul Levesque’s treatment of Dupre’s more thought at a more vigorous period.) A simple wrench in the whole matter, generally, is simply that at many periods of deep Christianity in the West, it was not a Christian tome that was the most read amongst elites, but Cicero’s De Officiis. That says something– talk amongst yourselves. That is what the history of ideas is good for, the details of reality.
I just don’t follow the logic. How does Turkey joining the European union translate into Europe forfeiting its Christian identity? After all, Turks (and other Muslims) already live in most parts of Europe, which hasn’t changed the cultural heritage of any European states. How would the incorporation of one Muslim state into a politico-economic entity made up of all Christian states, except it, radically change anybody’s cultural heritage? This is really hard to follow, especially coming from those who argue that Europe has ALREADY lost its Christian identity anyway. I mean, isn’t a heritage kind of like virginity — i.e., you only lose it once?
I may have missed something. Who said the line quoted: “How is it, in God’s name possible, that people swallow this?” Swallow what? (Perhaps it’s more than the logic I
couldn’t follow. Sorry.)
Dupre was quoting his wife after she, a Belgian, went to Mass in the US. It’s in his answer to the very last question.
Ye gads, no wonder I couldn’t follow…I misread the counter. Oops. I was blind, but now I see.:) Europeans are more intellectually discerning than Americans when it comes to religion. I get it. That she’d have that reaction in a Jesuit church says something about Americans…and Madame Dupre.;-)