Many economists, political scientists, historians research and write their theses seeking to explain the change in the global economic axis from China and India towards the Netherlands, England and the United States since the 18th century.
Geoffrey Blainey, Niall Ferguson and David Landes wrote relevant books on the migration of capital and profits from Asia to Europe, especially the gold/silver exchange and the technological advancement of the Industrial Age.
It is a frequent error to say that China did not have vassal states that paid them tribute. Military and religious power also exercised the kingdoms of Asia. Africa was explored by kingdoms in Europe and Asia, especially by Islamic tribes and clans. Slavery was practiced in all kingdoms.
What were the components of the process of change in Western societies?
The creation of the Stock Exchange in Amsterdam;
The invention of the steam engine;
The emergence of Scientific Societies;
The high literacy rate of Europeans;
The absorption of immigrants with great potential for influence;
Christian moral values in business, law and culture.
The great Awakenings may have created a powerful link between the Protestant nations of the Northern Hemisphere and the colonies that received better infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, railway lines and industries.
CS Lewis used two arguments to prove that Natural Law or morals belong to the same class as numbers. First, however, it is worth mentioning some examples of transmitted rules that are mere social conventions and, therefore, can be constructed differently, if it seems more convenient to men. We can use traffic rules and clothing as an example. The power of decisions seems to be related to this law that individuals or societies express in different ways.
In my book Church Mission: Dimensions and Effects (2011) I mention the power exercised by pastors of large churches. I didn't make any value judgments, but I highlight the expression "evangelical coronelism" to highlight collective participation in the regular decisions of religious institutions.
My hypothesis is that congregationalism was the basis for building democratic institutions that raised the quality of life among the people of the West. The excerpt from the film "The Patriot" shows the freedom to hold assemblies in Christian churches in the 13 US Colonies against the high burden of taxes charged by the English Monarchy. The result of the struggle was US independence.
I understand that church leaders seek to protect the legacy of their work. Increasingly, churches are becoming less participative in their strategic decisions and accountability. I would like to know if churches created in nations without democracies have produced a participatory congregational environment?
The decline of Congregationalism will likely diminish the influence of non-immigrant Christian adults, shift governance power to more liberal generations, and diminish the value of entrepreneurial economics that Christians can apply to their communities.
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