Atheists in The west should be thankful to Christainity since it was open to philosophy?
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And yes, as others have pointed out above, the eastern religions were way more tolerant than the western monotheisms, including xtianity.
Oh, and if you read your history, the Enlightenment happened in spite of xtianity, not because of it. The xtian church did its best to try to squash the Enlightenment and all the intellectual freedom it brought with it. The Dark Ages were good times...for the Church.
The west should be grateful that China had been a benign power for most of its 5000 years history. The only Eastern force that overran Europe was the Mongol Hordes, with an Empire 4 times that of the Roman Empire, and it was the Chinese Ming Dynasty that subjugated the Mongols, and Europe should be thankful to China for that.
**Renaissance (from cultural and later into development of formal education) started from 14th to 17th century, coinciding with the period of more contacts with China. Knowledge and inventions were shared, the secrets of the composition of using saltpetre (for gunpowder) was transmitted to the west. The real question could be: was Renaissance (and subsequently, Enlightenment) the result of contacts with China by the European nations of Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, and later the British and French?
Christianity's greatest philosophers (St Augustine and St Aquinas) got there philosophy from Avicenna and Averroes who were both Muslim. They in turn got it from the Greeks who were not Christian.
Islam has a very rich history in philosophy and to this day in many parts such as Egypt and Iran.
The East - like China and India - have had some of the most profound ideas in the world - some of these ideas were only reached by the West in the 17th and 19th centuries (Leibniz and Schopenhauer).
The philosophy taught by Buddha is actually very advanced and India has its own logical tradition.
China has had numerous philosophical doctrines such as Confucianism, Taoism and other myths and stories.
Indeed, Christianity itself is the intellectual fruit of the Middle East - not exactly Western is it?
As for the Dark Ages- it was exactly because of Islamic sciences that Europe came out of the dark ages. The biggest libraries in the world at that time were in Baghdad in Iraq and Cordoba in Moorish Spain (which was Muslim at that time).
So, first learn, read, all by yourself preferably rather than with people who are ignorant and ignorant that they are ignorant, and then submit your opinion. Before you do that, you will have a biased silly opinion which will make people think less of Christians and I have Christian friends and they are not like you.
So - Thou shalt not judge, nor shalt thou condemn!
God bless
"I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
Now there was a person, the most powerful man in the world at the time, who was "open to philosophy."
Everyone should be thankful for Thomas Aquinas, but more importantly Aristotle, where reason in philosophy was born.
Atheists are just fine the way they are.
Christianity, by the way, IS a closed system. It admits no religious belief other than the pillars of Christianity. All religions are thus. Islam demands adherence to its tenets, as does Christianity. If anything some of the Eastern religions are the more open, more free religions...they promote mysticism, etc.
Literally whole cultures and people were destroyed by the Christian zealots, fanatics and extremist as they brought faith and civilization to the "heathens" to such an extent that it is still difficult, if not impossible to regain that which was lost due to their actions.
While Christianity pulled Europe into a "dark age" of superstitions, fears, inquisitions, division, disunity, disharmony and near self destruction, the Muslims were maintaining and pursuing science, engineering, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and philosophy which the world is still enjoying due to their efforts.
This one must wonder what your sources are for such an obviously inaccurate statement and misrepresentation of the well documented and recorded history of said events?
Perhaps you were attempting to be sarcastic?
One must ask you how many learned men and women need to die, be tortured, harassed, imprisoned and exiled, as well as slandered, libeled and defamed by Christianity before you understand the ludicrous nature of your position regarding the Church's tolerance of "freedom of thought", "scientific exploration" and a true "love of knowledge"?
Be well and please, sincerely, try to be wise(r).
In our great country founded by Christianity, we murder homosexuals, pay women less than men, attack other countries in the name of our faith, deliver the death penalty to primarily black people.......
Other than a great contribution of literature (aka the Bible), I do not thank Christians for much.
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