I'm reading Sapiens, by Yuval Harari. 100 pages to go. But I'll take his point that the discovery of America was the turning point in Science and Religion, specifically because America was "discovered" by Europeans, whose prior religious and cultural authorities were satisfied by the pre-modern idea of things as they were answered in the Bible--which left out the whole western hemisphere, and since politics as they were presented by kings, queens conquerors, of that same pre-modern world, where no real knowledge made much of a difference in how wars were fought and the populace placated, there was no real reverence for science. But since there was a now a previously unknown continent, what else was out there that the Bible didn't answer -- conquerors and kings didn't control?

So, reverence for science and the humility to search for things previously unknown became a fever. Columbus sailed across the sea, thinking he might run into India, but instead a whole new world was discovered. Then Capitalism was conceived as a new way to think about money, that part of profits could be put back into the company to grow the business to make more profits, which had never been done before, and merchants and businessmen took over from kings and queens.

Hariri says that Capitalism, using capital to grow a business and make more profits than just what is needed for the business but to keep growing and learning, was a new ethos -- a new religion that everyone could believe in because everyone believed in money, whether Muslim, Christian or Atheist. At the time of this exploration, the people of the asia and the middle east, who far richer than the europeans at the time America was discovered, were not interested in any of these ideas. They liked how things were. But the english and europeans were keen on getting their hands on territory and conquering the people of these lands, taking their resources.

That America, the US, specifically became such a magical place is probably because of its geography, size, and influx of the europeans in closest proximity. It had the open land and would have been the logical place to spread such entrepreneurial spirits of business and science across the continent, first, and then beyond. Then America comes up with a new form of government that proclaims everyone has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- who wouldn't want to come here--and bring their ambitions with them?

I haven't quite finished the book yet, but this seems to he his thesis of how capitalism and respect for science has developed as co-drivers of the world relgion of capitalism. It seems even the middle east and China are coming around. And America was the new entity that embodied these ideas. When I finish the book, i'll know better if this is his conclusion, as well.

I also imagine, that the idea, or dream of America, and the pursuit of happiness that it represents will not die easily, despite the disrespect that's been shown for the rule of law and dream of equality. So many positive values for individuals were protected here, though not perfect, certainly better than what came before.

It seems just as I am understanding and have gained respect, myself for this idea of capitalism, as an ethos, it is coming under attack.

Has anyone else read Sapiens and what did you think?