伟大的亨廷顿，宗教决定人类历史(中英文版)

这是《西方文明的历程》这本书的第1部，第1章第二节的第三小节，《伟大的亨廷顿，宗教决定人类历史》这小节主要介绍并评论了亨廷顿的《文明的冲突》这本书的主要内容，亨廷顿以宗教信仰划分文明，划分欧洲政治版图及世界版图，与我的观点完全契合，只是我认为他因为政治正确，不敢完全声张宗教决定人类历史，是他学术生涯的最大遗憾。

有了这些基础我们再来论述为什么信仰大于政治理念。有人追求一些超然于宗教信仰的所谓普世政治理念，诸如民主、自由、人权等，但是政治理念只是哲学家、思想家虚构出来的产物，只是一些概念与词语，对于不识字或者虽识字却不关注者根本就不知为何物，根本就不可能产生什么影响，这些我将在第二章中以整章的篇幅论述。人类由于贪婪堕落的人性只遵从于物质刺激、享乐，而不是任何理念，更不用说政治理念了，所以政治理念不可能决定我们的生活，决定人类的历史。人类可以为物质基础，经济利益而战，因为这些是实实在在的财富、享乐，但是绝不可能为了政治理念而战，因为它们只是一些虚无空洞的概念，为了信仰充当人肉炸弹是很常见的事，而为了政治理念充当人肉炸弹却闻所未闻。不过你不得不承认人类社会总会一些诗人、精英将献身理念作为一种生活方式，但是诗人、精英毕竟是少数，这也是为什么他们倍感孤独、委屈的原因，经常感叹为了普世真理，普世价值洒尽热血，而芸芸众生却没有半点涟漪回响，实在令让人心酸心寒，殊不知这正是人间常理，理念对大多数人来说一无是处也根本不可能为它们牺牲。英国电影《阿拉伯的劳伦斯》描写了一位追求普世价值的诗人，前往阿拉伯地区传播自由民主的政治理念，毫无效果，反而被当地的阿拉伯人鸡奸，有一张剧照是他木然地瘫倒在沙漠上，屈辱、绝望，极其震撼，这就是理想与现实的悲剧性冲突。

说到这里可能马上就有人疑问，英国革命、美国革命、法国革命、拉美民族独立战争难道不是为了政治理念而战吗？其实这个问题就是本书的主要内容，英国革命、美国革命并不是为了政治理念更主要是为了信仰而战，为了信仰中隐含的自由平等而战。英国革命源于主教之战，起因就是查理一世强行在苏格兰推广主教制，引起信奉长老会的苏格兰人不满，于是爆发反抗战争，史称主教之战。接下来查理一世又想在英格兰推广阿米尼教派及主教制，引起英格兰清教徒的不满并最终爆发内战，在革命最低潮，最危急的时刻，正是克伦威尔率领的主要由清教徒组成的模范军，为了自由平等的宗教信仰，为了上帝的荣耀，舍生忘死奋力拼杀才扭转了战局将查理一世送上断头台，并以圣经为模板，进行了一系列共和政治的实践。而美国革命中大多数殖民地一再退让，寻求与母国和解，希望与英国保持最原始的殖民地与宗主国关系，但是一来由于当时的英国国王乔治三世愚蠢固执，想彻底征服殖民地，不愿做任何退让，二来由于新英格兰四州的清教徒追求自由平等的宗教信仰，使他们毫不妥协，并且自发地一次次用枪声推动革命进程，最后才促成美国独立，这些本书接下来将详尽地阐述。而法国革命毫无人性的大屠杀与中国的农民起义相似，是一种报复性的宣泄，很难将他们与政治理念联系一起。拉美民族独立后的现状令人很难相信那些领导人有什么政治理念，更多是挂着政治理念而实际只是为了自己的物质利益、个人荣誉、权力，这已经是另一个话题，这里就不多说了。

这里还要补充说明一点的是，中国的农民起义不属于任何政治理念，也不属于任何经济利益之争，只是为了生存下去的本能反应，或者说多年来被残酷压迫的报复性反弹，长期在儒家等级制下最底层的农民，尝尽了人间所有的苦难、艰辛、屈辱，人格被长期扭曲，尊严被肆意践踏，特别是王朝的末期，王权及官僚阶层对他们极其残忍的压榨剥削，秦收天下兵器，铸十二铜人，元朝连菜刀也要管制，目的就是使他们无条件地接受任何的压榨剥削，甚至不能有一丁点的反抗，只能是被压榨得剩下皮包骨头然后等死，精英阶层此时彻底撕下儒家的伪装展示人性赤裸裸的丑陋，罪恶。因而被压榨到极限的农民阶层的反弹也极为残忍野蛮，这完全是一种报复性的反弹，将一辈子所受的屈辱、羞辱、耻辱完全地发泄出来，最明显就是张献忠的屠川，与李自成的仿朱姓者杀，中国改朝换代的大动荡、大厮杀、大撕裂以人间地狱来形容一点不为过，但确实与任何政治理念无关。

我从来不会政治正确地认为所有的宗教都平等，因为真真切切、明明白白的事实就是，有的宗教确实野蛮愚昧，而有的宗教确实文明理性，为什么要昧着自己的良心说话，为什么要颠倒黑白、混淆是非，如果因为这是政治正确，那么这种政治正确绝对是大错特错的，因为人类不可能有昧着良心、颠倒黑白、混淆是非的所谓政治正确。亨廷顿在《文明的冲突与世界秩序的重建》明确指出，“冷战后的欧洲以天主教国家为标准划分西欧，中欧，东欧，西欧就是传统的天主教国家，包括法国、德国、意大利、西班牙等大多数主要国家，而中欧是指曾经的天主教国家，指匈牙利、波兰、捷克、斯洛伐克四国，而东欧就是指东正教国家指罗马尼亚、保加利亚二国，欧盟明确表示除了波罗的海三国外不将其他前苏联加盟共和国接纳为成员国，而波罗的海三国是传统的天主教国家自然例外，同时推迟东正教的罗马尼亚与保加利亚加入欧盟的申请，优先考虑中欧四国的申请，欧盟将与西方文明范围相重合，正如欧洲历史上曾经发生的一幕一样，而且北约将不接纳罗马尼亚，保加利亚为成员国也是尊重俄罗斯为东正教核心国家的地位。”这里亨廷顿已经将宗教作为划分欧洲分界线的主要依据，以宗教为依据划分欧洲的政治版图。①

我们再来看看亨廷顿是如何论述西方文明的，他认为的西方文明包括这几个方面，“古希腊罗马的古典遗产、天主教和新教、欧洲语言、精神权威与世俗权威的分离、法制、社会多元化、代议机构、个人主义。” 这里天主教与新教赫然在列。②亨廷顿在谈到全世界对自由民主的接受程度时，他认为，“此外，美国、西欧主要国家和国际机构的政策和行动，也对西班牙、葡萄牙、许多拉丁美洲国家、菲律宾、南朝鲜和东欧民主制度的建立起了帮助作用。民主化在基督教和西方影响强大的国家最为成功。新的民主政权在主要信奉天主教和新教的南欧和中欧最可能保持稳定，在拉丁美洲稳定性较差。在东亚，信奉天主教和受到美国极大影响的菲律宾于80年代回到了民主国家的行列。同时，南朝鲜和台湾的基督教领袖们也在推动民主化运动的发展。正如前面已经指出的，稳定的民主制度在前苏联，波罗的海诸共和国取得了成功；在东正教诸共和国中，民主制度的稳定程度彼此有相当大的差别，并且难以预测；穆斯林国家的民主前景则很暗淡。至90年代，除了古巴，其他大多数信奉西方基督教和基督教影响强大的国家都开始了向民主制的转变，但非洲是例外。”这些观点与我几乎一致，也是本书一直强调的观点，自由平等来自于基督新教，因而与基督新教社会的契合度最高，而拉丁美洲的天主教文化与自由平等貌合神离颇为冲突，自由平等与伊斯兰社会最为冲突，而非洲的原始部落根本就不知自由平等为何物。③

亨廷顿认为对美国这个西方文明的最大承载者的主要威胁，是国内的多元主义文化，由于大量的移民坚持自己的信仰造成的多元文化，削弱了基督教的影响，这将使美国衰弱甚至崩溃分裂成多个国家，这是《文明冲突》一书最精彩的部分，这也是目前美国陷入政治困境的主要原因，但是很少有人认识到这一点，很少有人理解亨廷顿的睿智。亨廷顿在书中还一直强调文明的冲突，西方文明与伊斯兰世界的冲突，西方文明与亚洲新兴经济力量的冲突等。我这里大量篇幅引用亨廷顿《文明的冲突与世界秩序的重建》一书的内容，主要想指出的是，亨廷顿在《文明的冲突与世界秩序的重建》中的许多预见如今已经成为事实，证明他是一位伟大的，极有远见的思想家、政治家。从我们引用的内容可以看出亨廷顿认为宗教对文明有着至关重要的影响，而且也很明显地表明了西方文明就是基督教文明，但是亨廷顿从来不明确表示文明冲突就是宗教冲突，不敢说西方文明就是基督教文明，为什么？因为政治正确。

可为了政治正确连事实都不能说的社会还是真正的社会吗？一个事实都不敢承认的学者还称得上学者吗？虽然我对亨廷顿极为敬佩，但是对他不敢阐述一个明显的事实深为遗憾。如果问我什么决定西方历史的进程？我会毫不犹豫的回答，宗教、宗教的冲突，如果问我何种宗教最接近文明、理性，我同样可以毫不犹豫地回答，基督教、基督新教。这些没必要遮遮掩掩、羞羞答答，事实就是事实，为什么不能承认。其实我也不是基督徒，只是这些年在探索西方文明的历程中才逐渐了解基督教，并且随着研究的深入，一步步被吸引并相信它的教义，但是由于心中还有许多中国人传统的佛踪道影，所以从不敢自称为基督徒，但是我可以明确地肯定，基督教二千多年来执掌着西方的文明之光，并且二千多年来一直引领人类前行，带领人类从野蛮愚昧走向文明理性，没有基督教如今的人类还处于怎样的世界？非洲的原始部落？南美洲的丛林帝国？还是沉迷于三寸金莲，三妻四妾的中国士大夫？

注：

①引用自《文明的冲突与世界秩序的重建》新华出版社出版，塞缪尔·亨廷顿著，周琪、刘绯、张立平、王圆 译。49页

②引用自《文明的冲突与世界秩序的重建》新华出版社出版，塞缪尔·亨

廷顿著，周琪、刘绯、张立平、王圆 译。49页

③引用自《文明的冲突与世界秩序的重建》新华出版社出版，塞缪尔·亨

廷顿著，周琪、刘绯、张立平、王圆 译。170页-171页

Huntington believes that the main threat to the United States, the largest carrier of Western civilization, is domestic multiculturalism. The multiculturalism caused by many immigrants adhering to their beliefs weakens the influence of Christianity and might even collapse the United States into multiple countries. This is the most wonderful part of the Book “Conflict of civilizations”. This is also the main reason why the United States is falling into political trouble today. But few people realize this and understand Huntington’s wisdom. In his book, Huntington has always emphasized the conflict of civilizations, the clash between Western civilization and the Islamic world, the clash between Western civilization and emerging economic forces in Asia, etc. I quoted extensively from Huntington’s book “The Clash of Civilizations and the Reconstruction of World Order” to point out that much of Huntington’s foresight in the book has now come true. It proves that he is a great and far-sighted thinker and politician. From what we quoted, we can see that Huntington believes that religion has a crucial influence on civilization, and it also clearly shows that Western civilization is a Christian civilization. However, Huntington never explicitly stated that the conflict of civilization equates to religious conflict. He dare not say that Western civilization is Christian civilization. Why? Because of political correctness.

The newly elected president of the United States, Trump, is the most politically incorrect politician in the United States. He set up a national prayer day for Americans, expressing his desire to defend American religious freedom and counter any attacks on the faith. In fact, from the disputes caused by his ban on entry visas from Islamic countries, it can be seen that the religious freedom he defended is the freedom of Christianity, and he will fight back against any attack on Christianity. However, he never dared to say that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and America is a Christian country. All these stem from political correctness also. The apparent facts can not say, dare not say; this is political correctness’s incredible magic. What is political correctness? I will detail it in the following chapters and only briefly introduce it here. Political correctness comes from the most pristine and pure ideals of humans.

But for the sake of political correctness, is a society that can’t even tell the truth still a real society? Can a scholar who dares not admit a fact be a scholar? Although I greatly admire Huntington, I deeply regret that he dared not to state an obvious fact. If you ask me what determines the course of Western history? I will not hesitate to answer the conflict between religions. If you ask me which religion is closest to civilization and rationality, I will also answer Christianity and Protestantism without a second thought. There is no need to speak in the circle or be Shilly-shally. The fact is the fact. So why can’t we admit it? In fact, I am not a Christian. It is only in the process of exploring Western civilization that I gradually understand Christianity.

With the deepening of research, I am attracted step by step and believe in its teachings. However, I never dare to call myself a Christian because there are many Chinese traditional Buddhist hints and Tao clues in my heart. However, I can ensure that Christianity has been in charge of the light of Western civilization for more than 2000 years and has been leading humans forward for more than 2000 years, guiding humans from barbarism and ignorance to civilization, and rationality. What kind of world is it if there is no Christianity?Primitive tribes in Africa?The jungle empire of South America?Or Chinese scholar-bureaucrats who indulge in three-inch Golden Lotus and three wives and four concubines?

Huntington believes that the main threat to the United States, the largest carrier of Western civilization, is domestic multiculturalism. The multiculturalism caused by many immigrants adhering to their beliefs weakens the influence of Christianity and might even collapse the United States into multiple countries. This is the most wonderful part of the Book “Conflict of civilizations”. This is also the main reason why the United States is falling into political trouble today. But few people realize this and understand Huntington’s wisdom. In his book, Huntington has always emphasized the conflict of civilizations, the clash between Western civilization and the Islamic world, the clash between Western civilization and emerging economic forces in Asia, etc. I quoted extensively from Huntington’s book “The Clash of Civilizations and the Reconstruction of World Order” to point out that much of Huntington’s foresight in the book has now come true. It proves that he is a great and far-sighted thinker and politician. From what we quoted, we can see that Huntington believes that religion has a crucial influence on civilization, and it also clearly shows that Western civilization is a Christian civilization. However, Huntington never explicitly stated that the conflict of civilization equates to religious conflict. He dare not say that Western civilization is Christian civilization. Why? Because of political correctness.

The newly elected president of the United States, Trump, is the most politically incorrect politician in the United States. He set up a national prayer day for Americans, expressing his desire to defend American religious freedom and counter any attacks on the faith. In fact, from the disputes caused by his ban on entry visas from Islamic countries, it can be seen that the religious freedom he defended is the freedom of Christianity, and he will fight back against any attack on Christianity. However, he never dared to say that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and America is a Christian country. All these stem from political correctness also. The apparent facts can not say, dare not say; this is political correctness’s incredible magic. What is political correctness? I will detail it in the following chapters and only briefly introduce it here. Political correctness comes from the most pristine and pure ideals of humans.

Under the greed and degeneration of human nature, humans remain the best memories of paradise, the most beautiful phantom of the Garden of Eden, and some ideas no one dares to refute, such as equality of all people. Even if it is obvious that people are unequal in reality, we dare not refute it at will; plainly, we feel that the idea of inequality between people is very awkward, but I don’t know what’s wrong. But the inequality between people is a fact; where is it wrong? Why is it awkward? Because it touches the best ideal of humans, the best ideal from the depths of the soul and the universe. Why is political correctness sometimes incorrect? Because unconditional political correctness can only make people forget the nature of humans, a nature that is also equal to all, all people have a nature of greed and degeneration. It is the reason why humans leave the beautiful paradise and Eden, bid farewell to the beautiful ideal, and come to the earth. Therefore, political correctness is a complex concept involving the complex relationship between past and present, heaven and earth? In today’s American society, you can scold whites but can not blacks. A scolding of blacks is racial discrimination. In fact, blacks are the same as whites; their human nature is also greedy and degenerate; unconditional political correctness can only encourage greed and degeneration of the human nature of blacks, which is not necessarily a good thing for blacks. Since the Martin Luther King Jr and Equality Act, How much has blacks’ status changed in American society? Not only didn’t the status change significantly, but it also exacerbated the conflicts between races. These will be explained in detail in the following chapters. I only introduce them here.

But for the sake of political correctness, is a society that can’t even tell the truth still a real society? Can a scholar who dares not admit a fact be a scholar? Although I greatly admire Huntington, I deeply regret that he dared not to state an obvious fact. If you ask me what determines the course of Western history? I will not hesitate to answer the conflict between religions. If you ask me which religion is closest to civilization and rationality, I will also answer Christianity and Protestantism without a second thought. There is no need to speak in the circle or be Shilly-shally. The fact is the fact. So why can’t we admit it? In fact, I am not a Christian. It is only in the process of exploring Western civilization that I gradually understand Christianity.

With the deepening of research, I am attracted step by step and believe in its teachings. However, I never dare to call myself a Christian because there are many Chinese traditional Buddhist hints and Tao clues in my heart. However, I can ensure that Christianity has been in charge of the light of Western civilization for more than 2000 years and has been leading humans forward for more than 2000 years, guiding humans from barbarism and ignorance to civilization, and rationality. What kind of world is it if there is no Christianity?Primitive tribes in Africa?The jungle empire of South America?Or Chinese scholar-bureaucrats who indulge in three-inch Golden Lotus and three wives and four concubines?