At Markpetens: I agree, however there has to be a little bit positive law and a judiciary who protects the natural law.Just a question to mister Beliën: ok, I understand very well your problem and what you fear.  However, is it not the problem that we see that a small majority (the muslim fundamentalists) want to try to force us up with their view.   Is this not the central problem. So why do you believe a society without religion is doomed.  It's a normal question.  May be there is already an article about it.   

I'd rather have religious natural law than positive law created by legislatures that legislate based on the flavour of the day.

"Non-religious cultures cannot survive."

The only problem with such an assertion is that there have too few non-religious cultures in world history -- uh...I can't think of any --on which to base an assertion. And conversely, the record is clear that religious cultures do fail.

So I don't think your assertion is supportable.

As to your "Secularism = Hedonism," that's poppycock. I find it astonishing that a man of your obvious intelligence would believe such an infantile characterization.

And, looking to find a realistic path forward, as if a revival of religion is in the offing. As if a revival of religion would be to the point. The problem is too much religion, of all types, not too little.

Enough said. Good luck to you. God helps those who help themselves. You have much to add in terms of raising the fear level but I don't think much when it comes to a solution.

You seem to equate all religions. The problem is not religion, but secularism because it has created a religious vacuum in the heart of European culture by destroying Europe's Christian roots. The vacuum is now being filled -- as could have been predicted -- by another religion. I am "rousing you to action" because I am a Christian. If I were a hedonist I would flee. As I wrote in the article you referred to: "Nobody fights for the flag of hedonism, not even hedonists themselves." If you ask me to choose between Mr Pizza Man's land and that of Eurabia the choice is obvious. Non-religious Europe is just not an option. Non-religious cultures cannot survive. That is exactly what Europe is proving today.

Perhaps I was not clear. I wrote that I thought that perhaps YOU would like Mr. Pizza Man's program. I personally think he's being silly but I was wondering if it might appeal to you, considering your emphasis on "moral conservatism."

I ask you again: What is your program? You attack secularism as the root of the problem. What is your solution? Rolling back history to the mid-17th century? Countering Islamofascism with your own brand of "vigorous" European nativism? (I am being polite.) A return to the divine right of kngs?

I admire your rousing us to action to face Islamic fundamentalism -- honestly, I do -- but so far the action which you seem to propose is that we should become as fundamentalist and narrow and intolerant as are the Moslems. If I have misread you, I am sorry; but your post on the decline of Europe was pretty clear in its condemnation of "secularism" as THE source of our problems and seemed to urge us to become as limited as our adversaries.

at Nielsen: I do not see the problem.  The power of the Pope in the middle ages has nothing to do with catholicism.  Freedom in Europe means indeed that people will choose their own destiny and believes.  And religion can be one of this believes. And if somebody believes in Catholicism he has also the right to try to persuade on a peacefull way people to take over his own ideas and morals.  So that is why a Catholic may and can defend his pro-life views.  But it are islam fundamentalists (not the whole community) who try to indoctrinate us with their believes and do it in a violant way.  That can not be accepted.What I find funny but also a bit sad, is that some people nowadays try to put this aside by saying that you can everywhere find fundamentalism.  And then they say some Catholics are fundamentalist.  But that is incorrect.  Who tries to convince is no fundamentalist but a 'modern' catholic.  Who tries to force you to take their religion and values with violence, that are fundamentalist.  But I do not see anything about that in Europe or even in the USA.   

Different kind of relions - would like to "solve" everybody's problems.

The result is, that many regions standards - don't accept the fact - that people are different and can make their own choises.

During our past history, the pope in Rome, was gathering a lot power. At that town, people was put in to jail, burned, tortured in the name of God.

Now a days - europe, have chosen democracy.

That should solve the issue - if any are attacking the level of freedom in Europe, I don't think,the people in Europe will accept it.

You link to an article about an American Catholic who opposes abortion, pornography and contraception. Are these the core values of your Enlightenment and your secularism? No wonder your culture is dying. Your self-inflicted birth dearth will be its doom. It is a pity that these are exactly the issues that CNE does not address, because they are the issues that the future of Europe depends on.

Mr. Bellen will be happy with this sign:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2058771,00.html

His problem -- and our problem -- is that he believes that we won't be able to combat Islamo-fascism unless we imitate it and we turn back the Enlightenment.

Kind of a tough sell.

In fact, the best weapon we have against Islamic nuttiness is the very secularism Mr. Bellen fears.

The Capitalist Ball was a wonderfull event.  I wish to thank the organizers of the ball for inviting me. And it was a pleasure to finally meet mister Beliën personally.

If there is one thing classical-liberals and conservatives should agree
on, it is that education ought not to be the business of the state. The homogeneity of public education causes many practical minded students to slack or drop out early, then turning to the streets and cause mayhem there. These students could easily have learned their trade on the workplace, but of course the same state introduces all kind of regulations (minimum wage laws, mandatory employee benefits, unemployment insurance payments, etc.) preventing an employer employing such a youth at a wage according to the youth's productivity (and thus hiring the youth not at all!).

How about a rock concert for the youth? :)