I strongly disagree with that assesment. Western civilization began most notably with the golden age of Greece, centuries before Jesus was born. Then it moved to the Romans, whose republic was also founded centuries before the birth of Christ. Europe was already thoroughly Romanized prior to Christianity. In fact many argue adoption of Christianity contributed to the fall of Rome (indeed many Christians argue this to help affirm their faith).
Western man went through a long period of theocratic rule by the Catholic church, both during the dark ages and leading into the Rennessaince. It was only those who broke with orthodox Catholic doctrine who really started Western civilization on the course it’s on today. Beginning with Galileo … even the refomers, all of this eventually led Western man into the age of enlightenment, the industrial age, and now the information age.
So IMO you’re just romantisizing your religion … and your assessment is not supported by the facts (indeed I could make a better case that the opposite is true, religion has always thawarted progress rather than spurring it). In fact during our dark ages the middle east (notably places like Syria) experienced their own version of an enlightenment period. Science, philosophy, etc. flourished in the Arab world … but they eventually fell prey to the strangle hold of theocracy (which strangled the life out all their wonderful accomplishments and vibrancy).
snip…
I would say the ‘proof is in the pudding’, or basically Europe, the West, progressed and Muslim countries were still in the 7th century and stay there until we enter the picture. Science, technology, barbaric penal systems, barbaric ways to conduct their private lives (abuse of women, slavery, lack of freedoms for the ones they subjugate, etc) all lag behind and still do to this day. Wherever there is sharia laws, or a sizeable Muslim population you will see these things still apparent.
Oh, and don’t give me the mere handful, a number that still leaves the fingers on one hand empty, of notable scientists from the Muslim world.
Actually, you just verified what I wrote. Yes, the Greeks started a movement, but the Romans were the next ones who came to the lime light and they had a cruelty in their conquests, but would allow their conquered ones to carry on with their ways if they bartered and traded with Rome, and became their friends. So what if the Roman empire ended? New things start.
In Islamic countries, Islam did hamper progress. They progressed as long as their dhimmi populations were newly conquered and as time went on even they degenerated.
As for glamorizing anything - I am not. Their times, their moralities/wars, etc are not to be judged by our ways. It is history. One thing that we are able to do that Muslims are not is to admit that the Church had some bad times. I have yet to hear that Islam had bad times - the 400 years before the 1st Crusade that was called because of Muslim bloodlust. The 1000 years of bloody jihad after that. And there is no end in sight.
And all of the bad times in Christianity were not due to the teachings, but to bad men. While in Islam the reverse is true. The teachings tell them to wage endless warfare, to subdue, to enslave, etc.
As for Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands - these countries have their own problems. And right now there is an influx of Muslims that are causing crime to skyrocket due to their inability to recognize a threat to their ways. The majority of the crimes are committed by muslims on non-muslims.
Geert Wilders has been telling us of the crime rates in the EU directly related to the Muslim immigration. They are the perps in over 70% of the crimes, and most of them are against non-muslims. Actually, I was aware of their problems before Mr. Wilders started speaking out but
Mr. Wilders has also been telling us of the ones who are trying to hamper the freedoms that once was European but are now being hampered by Muslims over there.
I have posted this before, they are using the UN, lawsuits, intimidation, lawsuits, etc to shut people up. It has progressed in Europe much faster and easier since none of the countries there have a Constitution guaranteeing these freedoms. What we are seeing there is what happened in a country that was free and prosperous and is now a pit - Lebanon. How about another failed country - Pakistan? Or look at Afghanistan. Look at Iraq. Look at what the Muslims have brought to Africa - Somalia, Sudan, etc.
I wouldn’t be too proud of that if I were you.
% of muslims and % of violence directed against non-muslims
Since 9/11 the Philippines has had over 10,000 attacks of muslims against non-muslims - and the reverse attacks upon Muslims is just non-existant.
And what is common in all these areas? The muslims start banding together in their own areas, they do not assimilate, they are peaceful in the beginnning and then the violence escalates. When it starts escalating the Muslims start proclaiming they are the victims and that is never true. And the cycle keeps going and escalating. And while it is escalating the true facts start getting twisted and we listen to the loudest whiners, and in some instances lose track of who did what and how often - but the pattern is always the same.
