In the graphic below our old friend, Bojidar Marinov, suggest that proof is found that genetics and culture have nothing to do with each other. He offers this pearl of wisdom, in his trenchant commentary on the graphic,
<i>”The awkward moment when you think that genetics determines culture, and then geneticists tell you that Spain is more “Celtic” than Scotland, and Austria is about as “Germanic” as Ireland.”</i>
Now the point we will be making below the graphic is not that culture is a reflection of only genetics. That position would force one into the unbiblical position of materialism. No Christian can claim to be consistently Christian and believe that culture is alone dictated by genetics.
However, contrary to Mr. Marinov’s views, neither is it, in the least, consistently Christian to deny that genetics has anything to do with culture. Such a position gives us Gnosticism, the very opposite of materialism. Mr. Marinov’s views that whom God has created us to be in our humanity, has nothing to do with culture is the stuff of which Gnosticism is made.
The best approach to culture is that it is the outward manifestation of a people’s inward beliefs. Note that in this definition we have the inclusion of both what a people think and the fact that it is very real corporeal people, with all their DNA (genetics) who are thinking.
The point that we will be making below the graphic is that Mr. Marinov observation, given above, is just nonsense.
1.) We might start by asking Mr. Marinov how it is exactly that Europeans, being closely related to other Europeans, is some kind of “awkward moment.” After all, Europeans are closely related to each other. That’s not a revelation. And it seems to imply the exact opposite point as Mr. Marinov imagines — that there really is a European / White identity.
2.) Secondly, we need to note that all because there are different ethnic markers in different places doesn’t mean that English, Irish, Scots, etc are Swedes, Germans, Danes, etc. Also, we must take into consideration that the West is a lot more mobile now. International corporations have greatly contributed to that mobility (along with the ebb and flow of conquering armies). Corporations have undermined the state and regional loyalties here in the US. So it shouldn’t be surprising that there is a mixture of European ethnicities.
3.) Touching Mr. Marinov’s observations regarding Spain being more Celtic than Scotland. This really isn’t that difficult and if Mr. Marinov knew his history better he wouldn’t be getting out on this limb that is currently being sawed off from beneath him. You see, Galicia (a part of Spain) is borderline one of the Celtic nations. The Gaels who settled Ireland came from Galicia, then went to over to mess with the Picts in Scotland. Also, Celts covered the continent at one point until empires were established over them. Obviously, given this reality one would expect to find just what the graphic reveals. Mr. Marinov’s post demonstrates his ignorance of tribal migration. One hopes this isn’t intentional on Mr. Marinov’s part. Regardless, whether it is ignorance or subterfuge the truth of the matter is that Mr. Marinov is quite inaccurate on this point.
4.) The fact that Europe’s culture is being re-made by the arrival of non-European people groups ought to be evidence enough that there is a relation between genetics and culture. If one ventures into different parts of “Londonistan” or “Parisistan” one finds a very different genetic pattern accompanied by a very different culture then one finds in French Paris or English London.
5.) Mr. Marinov says that genetics has no impact on culture. Well, as genetics is determinative of gender (as well as ethnicity) does he really want to advance the idea that there are no genetic differences between male and female such that those differences impact cultures that men and women create?
Are the differences between men and women (not physiological but cultural) only to be accounted for by how men and women think? This is what Mr. Marinov would have us believe if “genetics have absolutely nothing to do with culture.”
Mr. Marinov should visit an all girls school and a all boys school and take tours to demonstrate that genetics effect culture.
More might be said but this is enough to, once again, dismiss the Gnostic impulse of Mr. Marinov.
This rebuttal was a corporate effort by the members of one America’s more illustrious Reformed Think Tanks of which I am a member.
I think it was Marinov who once suggested that male/female behavioral differences were not biologically determined — instead, he would have us believe that there are male and female “spirits” which God matches up with male and female “bodies”.
My memory is a little hazy on this, however — perhaps someone else can cite the source?
Ahhh … yes Adam, now that you mention that I do remember.
“You see, Galicia (a part of Spain) is borderline one of the Celtic nations.”
Even much greater part of Spain, besides Galicia, used to be inhabited by Celtic tribes in ancient times; they simply vanished out of sight after having been assimilated by their Roman conquerors, who made them adopt Latin language that then evolved into Romance languages. Likewise, Gaul used to be Celtic, but now only the people of Bretagne speak Celtic language in France.
As for Scotland, the Scottish lowlanders (the great majority of Scottish population) were largely Anglo-Saxons by blood, while the pure Celts were pushed to the barren highlands.