European involvement in the Inquisition, Holocaust and rapacious colonialism worldwide has debased the moral authority of Europe in the eyes of peoples of Asia, Africa and Middle East, among others.
Posted on November 21st, 2025
Source: AI Overview
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This statement highlights historical events involving European powers—the Inquisition, the Holocaust, and colonialism—and the subsequent impact on Europe’s moral standing in the eyes of peoples in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere. These events are well-documented historical facts and the resulting perspectives from the affected regions are a subject of ongoing historical and post-colonial studies [1].
- The Inquisition: While not a single event, the various Inquisitions (mostly active in the late 15th to 19th centuries) were a series of institutions within the Catholic Church that prosecuted perceived heresy. Their methods, which included torture and executions, are widely condemned today and are often cited as a historical stain on Europe’s religious and legal history [1].
- The Holocaust: This systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators is considered one of the most horrific atrocities of the 20th century. While perpetrated by a specific European regime, it is a significant historical event that raises profound questions about European morality and is a central part of global historical memory [1].
- Colonialism: European colonialism spanned centuries and involved the exploitation of resources, the subjugation of indigenous populations, and widespread violence across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The profound negative impacts of colonialism—including economic exploitation, cultural erasure, and political instability—continue to shape the perspectives of post-colonial nations and inform the view that Europe’s historical actions were “rapacious” [1].
The sentiment that these events have “debased the moral authority of Europe” in the eyes of people from the affected regions is a widely expressed viewpoint in post-colonial discourse, international relations, and cultural studies [1]. These historical injustices have led to lasting skepticism and criticism regarding Europe’s claims to moral superiority or universal values.
The Irreparability of Colonialism
Europe and the Colonial Legacy: Continuity in a History to Be Told
Source: AI Overview