Dark Ages

[Faith24]

Skeptics have accused the church for blaming the Barbarians due to the fall of western civilization which they themselves caused. Historically speaking, the church was a great promoter of science and knowledge - it was the church that built western civilization! The monks helped reshaped and survived literacy through land and agriculture etc.

Now why do skeptics accused the church as proponent of the dark ages? Can somebody give me some pointers regarding that issue? And how would I go about defending the church?

Another thing is, during this time didn't Islam already made much of contribution already? And last, what's the fuss about when the skeptic accused the church for blaming it on the barbarians? Can somebody clarify? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Faith24]

Wow, nobody comment yet huh! OK, how about this... The church destroyed much of knowledge and suppressed any scientific research. They are responsible for the dark ages. Now go!

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Without Christianity, the Dark Ages would have truly been dark.

 

[Faith24]

Without Christianity, the Dark Ages would have truly been dark.

Where is the evidence? Perhaps age of ignorance? Knowledge were destroyed because it consider to be the work of the devil? :o

Christian History: the Age of Ignorance, illiteracy and systematic destruction of education

 

[Walter Kovacs]

I recommend getting a better source.

 

[revanneosl]

The fountainhead of the theory that the ascension of Christianity to a position of privilege among the religions of the Roman empire was one of the major causes of the fall of that empire is the book The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon. It was published in 6 volumes over the years from 1776 - 1789.

Though Gibbon's theory of Christianity's contribution to the fall of Rome was widely criticized at the time of its publication, it gained in popularity among serious historians due to its groundbreaking use of modernist techniques, such as the use of primary sources. As the enlightenment progressed, popular outrage gave way to an acceptance of his theory, and his books became both the standard in the field among historians and a popular success among the reading public.

Historians of late antiquity began to seriously question Gibbon's theory some decades ago. However, the long-running popularity of his books has caused his theory to become entrenched in the popular consciousness to such a degree that it has proven difficult to dislodge.