Fair enough. I was responding specifically to the parent comment: "...contrast the American / protestant view of work as the path to salvation with the European

Fair enough. I was responding specifically to the parent comment: "...contrast the American / protestant view of work as the path to salvation with the European / catholic view of work as something pitiful" I think there's still more to understand re: "cultural view towards people" (the dynamics behind those views) in relation to a point that's central to the Catholic ethos operative then and now: Christ crucified, the power of God and the wisdom of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31).