The Burden of the White Woman

Understanding the Democratic Nature of Catholicism

Despite its apparent organizational authoritarianism and corruption, the Catholicism that dominated Western Europe for about ten centuries before Martin Luther's 95 Theses in 1517 was, and largely remains, profoundly democratic in its view of human worth before God. It asserts that any individual, regardless of their status, can attain eternal salvation if they choose to embrace God's grace, perform good deeds, and cleanse their sins through repentance.

The Shift to Protestantism and its Implications

However, as Max Weber highlighted in his acclaimed work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1905), Protestantism, particularly its Calvinist variant, significantly altered this perspective. It introduced the doctrine of predestination, suggesting that only a select few are chosen for eternal grace. This doctrine had far-reaching effects on societies where Calvinism took root and shaped foundational cultural norms.

The Obligation to Correct Moral Behavior

One of the most consequential outcomes of this doctrine is the widely accepted idea that a select few, presumably members of the predestined elite, have not only the right but also the duty to rectify or control the moral behavior of their fellow citizens.

A Personal Cultural Journey

Like many people raised in the US, I initially thought this was a universal cultural dynamic. However, my long-term immersion in the cultures of Post-dictatorial Spain, Portugal, Italy, and several Latin American countries revealed a different reality. I discovered societies where the impulse to morally judge others was largely absent. These cultures embraced their bodies, their sexuality, and their basic functions with a fearlessness and naturalness that I had rarely experienced growing up.

Linking Cultural Outlook and Imperialism

Interestingly, unlike many of us raised within the Protestant sphere, the citizens of these places often had no difficulty recognizing the connection between our "moral paragon" outlook and the nature of contemporary Anglo-American imperialism. They understood that at the heart of imperialism, once you strip away its military and economic trappings, is the belief that the elites of the imperialist tribe are morally superior and therefore have the right and duty to "enlighten" the less fortunate cultures of the world.

The White Man’s Burden and its Evolution

In this context, it's fitting that Rudyard Kipling, an Anglo-American living during the transition from British to American global dominance, coined the concept of the "White Man’s Burden". Following World War II, as many parts of Asia and Africa were decolonizing, Kipling’s poem was seen as an embarrassing relic of a bygone era. However, with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Anglo-American "duty" to wage wars of peace on others returned with renewed vigor, albeit with a more politically correct vocabulary.

The Emergence of the White Woman’s Burden

While the practice of moral beneficence through war was traditionally a male endeavor, the advances of feminism have given rise to the concept of the White Woman’s Burden. Like their male predecessors, those who assume this role firmly believe in a moral elite whose duty it is to liberate the majority from their weaknesses and superstitions. However, unlike their male counterparts, these new female educators often use methods such as interpersonal boundary violations and reputational damage.

The Influence on Catholic Cultures

Interestingly, these new bearers of the White Woman’s Burden have made significant inroads into the Catholic cultures of Europe and America, which previously scoffed at the Calvinist moralizing of the north. Today, one only needs to spend a few minutes in the Boho neighborhoods of Barcelona, Lisbon, or Mexico City, or consume the media produced by and for people from these places, to witness the moralizing influence of these women.

The Future of This Cultural Shift

Is this a new beginning that will fundamentally change human relations, or is it the chaotic end to the 500-year project of European modernity, which was significantly influenced by the embedded doctrine of Calvinist predestination? My bet is on the latter, as history has taught us that human ingenuity and the ability to transform our environment, while often impressive, are ultimately no match for the unfathomable creativity and power of the Gods.

Bottom Line

These simple lessons, which modernity has tried to portray as irrelevant, are likely to reassert themselves in ways that few in our class of enlightened male and female burden-bearers ever thought possible. What are your thoughts on this cultural shift? Share this article with your friends and let's discuss. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered every day at 6pm.