Supporters of Israel regularly point out on here that Islam isn`t an asset in building a modern, dynamic state.
It`s possible, though, that the same could be true of orthodox Judaism. The ancinet Jewish states had a fairly unimpressive record of being regularly invaded and occupied by Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, Persians, Greeks, Romans etc.
Now, some of that may be down to Israel`s position on the key strategic route from Asia to Africa, but still, the ancient Jewish states were nothing spectacular.
The great flowering of Jewish prosperity, influence and creativity came in a largely secular context in 18th, 19th and 20th century western culture.
Supporters of Israel tend to assume that Israel will continue that tradition whhether it`s religious or secular, but will it? Or could an orthodox religious Israel just turn into another Middle Eastern religious backwater? |
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