Civilisation is the artificial and polished life where people are associated by common recognised rules. They have developed of skills and mental faculties. This is in contrast with men barbarism with men in natural or ‘savage’ groups, acting on natural impulses and passions. Nevertheless, mental faculties the natural state, and the impulses and passions remain in the civilised. If these are let loose, unrestrained by common recognised civil rules, we have revolution, war, and so forth.
| Barbaric State | Civilised State |
 Origin – Adam after the fall
Men are personally free Men act as individuals Social and family groups are small Barbarism was the natural effect of Adam’s state when he had lost God
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Origin – Cain Men are more dependent on each other Men are more closely united Men are gregarious (more than social) Civilisation began when Cain built a city Civilisation uses human faculties and the earth’s resources to make the world a pleasant without God
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Based on J. N. Darby: ‘Civilisation’ – Notes and Comments Vol. 1, p 110
Sosthenes
August 2016