Emerging

"No man can think write or speak from his heart, but he must intend truth. Thus all sects of Philosophy are from the Poetic Genius, adapted to the weakness of every individual."

William Blake, All Religions Are One,1788

"War, huh, what is is good for?" Strong religious convictions of many groups -- especially of Catholics and Protestants -- led to bloody wars which sometimes wiped out the population. The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) in Germany was arguably the bloodiest that Europe had ever suffered.

The Puritan Revolution led to civil war in England, and to even more wars, until finally settling in a situation very similar to the one which existed prior to the revolution, just with a side of tolerance for religious dissenters.

Fuel for the fire was provided by various orthodoxies -- Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed. For each of these orthodoxies every detail of doctrine was of the great importance, and therefore no deviation from the most strict orthodoxy was allowed. Wars and an endless series of debates among Catholics, Lutherans, and the Reformed, all of whom found it difficult to reach an agreement was the result of this anal retentive behavior.

(Women's winter dress in Torshko, woman from Ryaza (Russia)