I find it quite ironic that Saramago, who is the founder for the National Front for the Defense of Culture in Lisbon, fails to understand that the Holy Bible and its influence in politics, religious cultural arts in the Catholic Church, was pivotal in the safeguarding of European culture from the Dark to the Medieval to the Classical epochs. It is the Holy Bible that was responsible for the increase in literacy rates in Europe in earlier epochs, which later influenced the birth and exponentiation of the Renaissance. Indirectly, one can even attribute the Holy Bible in its teaching within the Church and among private readers, indirectly influenced European Enlightenment, which was a response to the increased literacy rate in Europe--which was facilitated by the Holy Bible and by the religious orders that facilitated in spreading the Good News throughout Europe.
Once Europe was conquored, so would her colonies be conquored--by the power of Faith.
England and her American, Canadian, Indian and African colonies--> will be Christianized
Spain and her Latin American and Philippine colonies --> will be Christianized
etc, etc, etc.
The Bible.
It's rather CULTURAL and RELIGIOUS at the same time.
Saramago, go read history.
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