This is a pretty huge and potentially sprawling subject/question. I don't have the time to think this through completely, but I'll throw this out there. Does he address the specific economic, geopolitical, social, etc issues involved in each of those civilizations? I mean over time (Egypt was around for a very long time), stuff happens and things change...To say they fell for one or two reasons? I don't think so.

That said, I do believe we are getting away from some of those values that helped build the country. I do not think scientific development vs. religion is part of this. There is room for both. Believing in science doesn't mean one can't be spiritual and virtuous. Also, how many people really lived by those virtues in the past? years ago, many of the negative realities of day to day life were swept under the rug. To what extent do we idealize what things were like? Just a question. I'm sure it's all a matter of degree.

Jordan