Um, China does have a space program. So does India and Nigeria. Hell, the Chinese are currently building a space station, and are looking at a possible manned Martian mission.Traun said:Then pray tell, why don't the Chinese have space ships? Or the Africans? Not only do they NOT have a Church, but their own belives are not dogmatic in a way that'd hinder scientific progress? Point is the Dark Ages are not a result of Christianity, it is the result of internal strife, foreign invasion, plagues and more. Had the Church, an organization that sponsored the arts AND sciences, not to mention did massive charity work and provided a somewhat central authority, not existed, the conditions of the continent would have been worse.Strazdas said:we would be much more advanced if christianity wouldnt have had ruled europe. how much is questionable, as we cant predict future, but it is undoubltedly true statement.
There have been many Dark Ages in history - the Greeks had two I believe, the Natives have at least one, there were a few in Asia. They are not the result of dogma, but of turbulent political environment.
And in the turbulent Dark Ages the Church was the one stable authority.
However, as you say, the Catholic Church only thing keeping some semblance of control over Europe, as the Romans had done previously.