Nature, not culture

"Christ died also for 'barbarians,' but he did not become man as a barbarian, nor did he live among them, or choose his disciples among them.  The relapse of civilised nations into barbarism is moreover not possible unless they first abandon Christianity."

     Theodor Haecker, Journal in the night.  I was put onto this by R. R. Reno.  "The public square," First things no. 298 (December 2019):  68.