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jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 03:08 AM Sep 2012

South Africa was run by Dutch Reformed Protestants

Last edited Sun Sep 16, 2012, 04:49 AM - Edit history (1)

The apotheosis of the Pilgrims is largely a product of a certain strain of Protestantism. The reason the Pilgrims went from England to Holland is twofold. First, the political climate in relation to anglican, reformed, and Catholic populations had long been turbulent. Second, their Calvinistic strain of belief was itself an import, most directly kindred to the Dutch Reformed.

They left Holland for two reasons. First, they were concerned that their children's minds were being polluted by Dutch tolerance. Now, the Dutch Reformed are as personally uptight as the next Protestant, but they were still too tolerant for the Pilgrims. Second, the Dutch West India company needed suckers to make money for their investors. These were the first venture capitalist to export jobs.

But anyway, the Pilgrims themselves lost their battle against assimilation here in the long run. However, those of the purest strain of Dutch Reformed established colonies in South Africa.

It is their culture - the culture of the Afrikaners - which finally bloomed into its glory as the ruling culture of South Africa in the 20th Century.

And I well remember at the time when we responded to the call of Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu and others to use economic action to effect social change in South Africa.

And do you know who the chief opponents of ending apartheid were, here in the US?

The remnants of the Calvinistic heritage of the Pilgrims. Not by descent, but in the spiritual sense.

South Africa is one of two historical examples of where things go when "literalist" Bible believers get their hands on the wheels of power.

(note to hosts - this is not a religion thread. It is a thread about the political impact of a particular religious mindset, its political manifestation in South Africa, and what that might imply about our political future)

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South Africa was run by Dutch Reformed Protestants (Original Post) jberryhill Sep 2012 OP
One of their centers is just south of me. longship Sep 2012 #1

longship

(40,416 posts)
1. One of their centers is just south of me.
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 04:43 AM
Sep 2012

Grand Rapids, MI, the home of the deVoss family, who owns AmWay and half of the city. In-law founded BlackWater out of Holland, MI (?didn't check that).

They are a horrible leech family.

The worst thing about GR is the hold of the Dutch Reformed Church. Downtown, everything is closed on Sunday. No fun except for a few apostates.

The best things about Grand Rapids are Art Prize and Reasonable Doubts, a Blog and the best religious podcast on the planet (personal opinion). It is geeky, humorous, and unrelenting in their skewering of religious hypocrisy, all while providing one with an incredible religious education. If you haven't checked this out, do so.

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