Christianity and the rise of the west

[Craftian]

Moderators: when you close a thread, please at least give a reason. Having to open a new thread in order to make a reply seems a bit much.

quote:Read your history. Virtually everything we hold dear in our culture has its roots in early Christianity.

When Jesus of Nazareth was born, western civilization was ruled by pagans who viewed power and glory as the prime virtues.

I will not deny that most of Western culture has roots in Christianity. What I will deny is that Christianity is the only path to our current society or one like it.

quote:Slaves were horribly abused, and women of every sort were treated little better.

You mean like the slaves and women of Christian men until at least the 18th century?

quote:The Nazarene movement introduced some truly revolutionary ideas that would shape our civilization. Most importantly, they preached that everyone is equal before God. Material wealth was proclaimed to be irrelevant; all individuals, male and female, noble and slave, would be judged by the same laws.

Perhaps in the early days. This was turned on it's head by the rise of The Church, and probably didn't return to it's beginnings until late in the Reformation. Some sects still haven't.

quote:In pagan Rome, women were baby machines.

Not to be misogynistic or anything, but who is to say that our way is any better. As you say, our ideas are influenced (most cases, based entirely on) what came before. To us it is perfectly logical and right that women be free. To the pagens it is perfectly logical and right that women be baby machines. The thing is, because you have been influenced by the philosophy, everything about the philosophy is automatically correct.

quote:Down through the centuries, the chief opponents of war, slavery, and poverty have been Christians and Christian leaders.

So have the chief opponents of dancing, alcohol and people of other religions.

quote:Even the non-Christian thinkers were affected by the Christian thinkers that came before them. Come on, read a book before you say silly things like this.

And early Christian thinkers were inspired by the pagan thinkers that came before them, right? So?