"but, in the history of western civilization, the church has played a central role in maintaining normalcy in the face of collapse."

well, that would be a correct perception, if you're approaching the situation from a roman or christian perspective.

but, if you're approaching the situation from a german or pagan perspective, or a turkish one for that matter, then the church is a relic of a vanquished culture, not a place of solace during difficult times.

i identify with the forces of revolutionary change that overthrew the empire, not the forces of conservatism and stasis that searched for something to hold on to in times of crisis.

am i getting my point across, here?

and, as inheritors of the british empire, are we not also inheritors of heresy, of henry viii, of anti-popes and of skepticism towards papal absolutism?

as inheritors of the french revolution, are we not also inheritors of the replacement of superstition with reason, and the overthrow of the ancien regime?

and are both of these traditions not inherently pagan, inherently german, in their rejection of roman christianity?