From: fournet.arnaud
Message: 58701
Date: 2008-05-20
----- Original Message -----
From: "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@...>
>> We all come from societies where racism is or was an inherent part.
>> That's an unfortunately inherent trait of humans uninformed by the
>> Enlightenment.
>I don't understand the reference to 'Enlightenment', although I've
>seen similar instances of this use many places. The way we were taught
>history in school, the Absolutist Monarchy in its last stages had a
>project to educate and enlighten its citizens, seeking legitimacy that
>way. That doesn't change the fact that Absolutist Monarchy was
>despotism, and the absolute opposite of democracy. Enlightening in
>this form is only possible under coercion.
>Torsten
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As far as France is concerned,
I would rather say that Enlightment ("Siècle des lumières" ?) was directed
against Absolutism and also against Religion(s) (any form)
and this ultimately caused the fall of the monarchy and a serious decline in
the interest for religious matters.
Arnaud
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