Impact of Christianity on western civilization

Christianity has been historically intertwined with Western civilization. However, it is difficult to decide what its effects were.

Through its long history, the Church has been a major source of social services. Several universities were founded by the Church.[1] Some historians of science,[2][3][4] have argued that the Church had a significant, positive influence on the development of science.[5][6] Some of the Church's priests have contributed to science.[7] In various ways the Church has sought to affect Western attitudes to vice and virtue in diverse fields. It has, over many centuries, preached the teachings of Jesus within the Western World and remains a source of continuity linking modern Western culture to classical Western culture.

Influence

The Bible and Christian theology have influenced Western philosophers and political activists. [8][9] Christian teachings on sexuality and marriage have been influential.

The cultural influence of the Church has been vast. Festivals like Easter and Christmas are marked globally as public holidays; Pope Gregory XIII's Gregorian Calendar has been adopted internationally. Year numbering in the West is taken from the assumed date of the birth of the Church's founder, Jesus of Nazareth. In the list of the 100 most influential people in human history there are 65 Christian figures from various fields.[10]

Science

Christian scholars and scientists have made noted contributions to science and technology fields,[11][12][13] as well as Medicine,[14] both historically and in modern times.[15] Some scholars and historians attribute Christianity to having contributed to the rise of the Scientific Revolution.[16] Most scientists of that time considered themselves Christian such as Nicolaus Copernicus,[17] Galileo Galilei,[18] Johannes Kepler,[19] Isaac Newton[20] and Robert Boyle.[21]

Protestantism has had an important influence on science. According to the Merton thesis, there was a positive correlation between the rise of English Puritanism and German Pietism on the one hand and early experimental science on the other.[22][23][24] Robert K. Merton focused on English Puritanism and German Pietism as having been responsible for the development of the scientific revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries. He explained that the connection between religious affiliation and interest in science was the result of a significant link between the ascetic Protestant values and those of modern science.[25]

Copernicus, a Catholic priest, delayed publication of his work on heliocentrism until the year of his death. The theory attracted attention among scientists. Decades later, Galileo Galilei took an interest in astronomy, and raised the question more prominently. This brought the attention of the Committee for Propaganda of the Catholic Church, otherwise known as the Inquisition. He was tried, convicted, and forced to retract his published belief in heliocentrism.

Centuries later, the Catholic church had lost interest in subjecting natural philosophy to dogma. The relation of the now separate Church of England to evolution was complicated by the lack of the centralised authority of a Pope. Many conservative clerics opposed evolution fiercely, whilst few liberal clerics saw conflict with their beliefs. Before he published the On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin feared the reaction of the church, and spent years collecting evidence as defence to the expected criticism. Long after it was all but universally accepted, some Protestant leaders continued to resist evolution.

References

  1. Christianity and eduction
  2. "J.L. Heilbron". London Review of Books. Retrieved 2006-09-15.
  3. Lindberg, David C.; Numbers, Ronald L. (October 2003). When science and Christianity meet. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-48214-9.
  4. Goldstein, Thomas (April 1995). Dawn of modern science: from the ancient Greeks to the Renaissance. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-80637-7.
  5. "Christianity and science". Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  6. Are Christians "anti-science?"
  7. Wright, Jonathan (2004). The Jesuits. p. 189.
  8. "church and law". Archived from the original on 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  9. BiBle and Law
  10. "Religious Affiliation of History's 100 Most Influential People". Archived from the original on 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2012-01-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. Gilley, Sheridan (2006). The Cambridge History of Christianity: Volume 8, World Christianities C.1815-c.1914. Brian Stanley. Cambridge University Press. p. 164. ISBN 0521814561. ... Many of the scientists who contributed to these developments were Christians...
  12. Steane, Andrew (2014). Faithful to Science: The Role of Science in Religion. OUP Oxford. p. 179. ISBN 978-0191025136. ... the Christian contribution to science has been uniformly at the top level, but it has reached that level and it has been sufficiently strong overall ...
  13. L. Johnson, Eric (2009). Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal. InterVarsity Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0830875276. ... . Many of the early leaders of the scientific revolution were Christians of various stripes, including Roger Bacon, Copernicus, Kepler, Francis Bacon, Galileo, Newton, Boyle, Pascal, Descartes, Ray, Linnaeus and Gassendi...
  14. S. Kroger, William (2016). Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis in Medicine, Dentistry and Psychology. Pickle Partners Publishing. ISBN 978-1787203044. Many prominent Catholic physicians and psychologists have made significant contributions to hypnosis in medicine, dentistry, and psychology.
  15. Baruch A. Shalev, 100 Years of Nobel Prizes (2003), Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, p.57: between 1901 and 2000 reveals that 654 Laureates belong to 28 different religions. Most (65.4%) have identified Christianity in its various forms as their religious preference. ISBN 978-0935047370
  16. Some scholars and historians attribute Christianity to having contributed to the rise of the Scientific Revolution:
  17. Pro forma candidate to Prince-Bishop of Warmia, cf. Dobrzycki, Jerzy, and Leszek Hajdukiewicz, "Kopernik, Mikołaj", Polski słownik biograficzny (Polish Biographical Dictionary), vol. XIV, Wrocław, Polish Academy of Sciences, 1969, p. 11.
  18. Sharratt, Michael (1994). Galileo: Decisive Innovator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 17, 213. ISBN 0-521-56671-1.
  19. "Because he would not accept the Formula of Concord without some reservations, he was excommunicated from the Lutheran communion. Because he remained faithful to his Lutheranism throughout his life, he experienced constant suspicion from Catholics." John L. Treloar, "Biography of Kepler shows man of rare integrity. Astronomer saw science and spirituality as one." National Catholic Reporter, 8 October 2004, p. 2a. A review of James A. Connor Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order amid Religious War, Political Intrigue and Heresy Trial of His Mother, Harper San Francisco.
  20. Richard S. WestfallIndiana University The Galileo Project. (Rice University). Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  21. "The Boyle Lecture". St. Marylebow Church. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  22. Cohen, I., ed. (1990). Puritanism and the Rise of Modern Science: The Merton Thesis. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0813515304.
  23. Cohen, H. (1994). The scientific revolution: a historiographical inquiry. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 320–321. ISBN 9780226112800. Google Print, pp. 320–321
  24. Ferngren, Gary B. (2002). Science and religion: a historical introduction. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 125. ISBN 9780801870385. Google Print, p.125
  25. Becker, George (December 1992). "The Merton thesis: Oetinger and German Pietism, a significant negative case". Sociological Forum. 7 (4): 642–660. doi:10.1007/bf01112319. S2CID 56239703.

Read other articles:

Bulbophyllum macraei Klasifikasi ilmiah Kerajaan: Plantae (tanpa takson): Angiospermae (tanpa takson): Monocots Ordo: Asparagales Famili: Orchidaceae Genus: Bulbophyllum Spesies: Bulbophyllum macraei Nama binomial Bulbophyllum macraei(Lindl.) Rchb.f. in W.G.Walpers 1861 Bulbophyllum macraei adalah spesies tumbuhan yang tergolong ke dalam famili Orchidaceae. Spesies ini juga merupakan bagian dari ordo Asparagales. Spesies Bulbophyllum macraei sendiri merupakan bagian dari genus Bulbophyllum.&...

 

His EminenceJoão Braz de AvizCardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic LifeAppointed4 January 2011PredecessorFranc RodeOther post(s)Cardinal priest of Sant’Elena fuori Porta PrenestinaOrdersOrdination26 November 1972by Romeu AlbertiConsecration31 May 1994by Domingos Gabriel WisniewskiCreated cardinal18 February 2012by Pope Benedict XVIRankCardinal deacon (2012–22)Cardinal priest (2022–present)Personal detailsBornJoão ...

 

Part of a series onBritish law Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom Year      1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 ...

Pour les articles homonymes, voir Mège. Alexandre Du MègeAlexandre Du Mège vers 1862 (par Delon).BiographieNaissance 5 décembre 1780La HayeDécès 6 juin 1862 (à 81 ans)ToulouseNationalité françaiseActivités Archéologue, numismate, historienAutres informationsMembre de Académie des sciences de Turin (1837)modifier - modifier le code - modifier Wikidata Louis Charles André Alexandre Du Mège ou Dumège, né à La Haye le 5 décembre 1780 et mort à Toulouse le 6 juin 1862, est...

 

Indian academic This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.Find sources: Madhu Khanna – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Ma...

 

Egyptian poet and writer Abdel Rahman el-Abnudiعبد الرحمن الأبنوديBorn(1938-04-11)11 April 1938Abnud, Qena, EgyptDied21 April 2015(2015-04-21) (aged 77)NationalityEgyptian Abdel Rahman el-Abnudi (Arabic: عبد الرحمن الأبنودي, romanized: ʻAbd ir-Raḥmān il-Abnūdī, 11 April 1938 – 21 April 2015) was a popular Egyptian poet, and later a children's books writer. He was one of a generation of poets who favored to write their work in the Egyptian di...

Cargo transport using multiple containers For passenger transport, see Intermodal passenger transport. Containers being transferred to a cargo ship at the container terminal in Bremerhaven, Bremen, Germany Intermodal ship-to-rail transfer of containerized cargos at terminals in Portsmouth, Virginia, United States Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation (e.g., rail, ship, aircraft, and tru...

 

Croatian tennis player This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.Find sources: Ivan Dodig – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Ivan ...

 

FC Hradec KrálovéCalcio Segni distintiviUniformi di gara Casa Trasferta Colori sociali Bianco, nero SimboliLeone Dati societariCittàHradec Králové Nazione Rep. Ceca ConfederazioneUEFA Federazione FAČR Campionato1. liga Fondazione1905 Presidente Richard Jukl Allenatore Václav Kotal StadioMalšovická aréna(Template:9 300 posti) Sito webwww.fchk.cz PalmarèsTitoli nazionali1 Campionato cecoslovacco di calcio Trofei nazionali1 Coppa della Repubblica Ceca Si invita a seguire il model...

 本表是動態列表,或許永遠不會完結。歡迎您參考可靠來源來查漏補缺。 潛伏於中華民國國軍中的中共間諜列表收錄根據公開資料來源,曾潛伏於中華民國國軍、被中國共產黨聲稱或承認,或者遭中華民國政府調查審判,為中華人民共和國和中國人民解放軍進行間諜行為的人物。以下列表以現今可查知時間為準,正確的間諜活動或洩漏機密時間可能早於或晚於以下所歸�...

 

Елабужский государственный музей-заповедник Дата основания 1989 Дата открытия 09:00 — 18:00, пн — выходной Местонахождение Елабуга Адрес Елабуга, улица Гассара, 9 Посетителей в год от 100 тыс. в год Директор Гульзада Ракиповна Руденко Сайт elabuga.com  Медиафайлы на Викискладе Объ�...

 

Association football club in England Football clubThe 61 (Luton)Full nameThe 61 Football Club (Luton)Founded1961GroundKingsway Recreation GroundLutonBedfordshire[1]ChairmanMark Davie[1]ManagerRichard Everitt[1]LeagueSpartan South Midlands League Division Two2023–24Spartan South Midlands League Division Two, 18th of 18 Home colours Away colours The 61 Football Club (Luton) is a football club based in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club is affiliated to the Bedfords...

Minin menyerukan kepada rakyat Nizhny Novgorod untuk melawan Polandia. Lukisan karya Konstantin Makovsky. Masa Kekacauan (bahasa Rusia: Смутное время, Smutnoe vremya) adalah periode dalam sejarah Rusia yang mencakup masa interregnum setelah kematian Tsar Rusia terakhir dari Dinasti Rurik, Feodor Ivanovich, pada tahun 1598, hingga pendirian Dinasti Romanov pada tahun 1613. Pada tahun 1601–03, Rusia mengalami bencana kelaparan yang menewaskan sepertiga penduduknya (sekitar dua...

 

For domed and retractable roof stadiums, see List of covered stadiums by capacity. The following is a list of arenas ordered by seating capacity, which is the maximum number of seated spectators the arena can accommodate for a sports event. Only the capacity for indoor sports, such as basketball, ice hockey, and volleyball, are included. Currently all arenas with a capacity of 15,000 or more are included. Venues are only included if they are designed primarily for sports traditionally held i...

 

Politics of ancient Rome Periods Roman Kingdom753–509 BC Roman Republic509–27 BC Roman Empire27 BC – AD 395 Principate27 BC – AD 284 DominateAD 284–641 WesternAD 395–476 EasternAD 395–1453 Timeline Constitution Kingdom Republic Sullan republic Empire Augustan reforms Late Empire Political institutions Imperium Collegiality Auctoritas Roman citizenship Cursus honorum Assemblies Centuriate Curiate Plebeian Tribal Ordinary magistrates Consul Praetor Quaestor Promagistrate Aedile T...

The Song of Tentomushiてんとう虫の歌(Tentōmushi no Uta) MangaPengarangNoboru KawasakiPenerbitShogakukanImprintTentōmushi ComicsMajalahShogakukan no Gakushō ZasshiDemografiMangaTerbit1973 – 1975Volume4 Seri animeSutradaraHiroshi SasagawaSkenarioShigeru YanagigawaTakao KoyamaMusikShunsuke KikuchiStudioTatsunoko ProductionSaluranasliFuji TVTayang 6 October 1974 – 26 September 1976Episode104  Portal anime dan manga The Song of Tentomushi (てんとう虫の歌 Tentōmushi n...

 

Non-profit organization promoting aid to youth Jugend Eine Welt - Don Bosco Action AustriaLogo von Jugend Eine Welt – Don Bosco Aktion ÖsterreichFounded1997TypeNon-profitNGOHeadquartersVienna, AustriaLocationAustriaServicesThe organisation´s objective is the encouragement of the holistic development of children and young people and nurtures them with the philosophy of Don Bosco.Key peopleReinhard Heiserer (chairman)Websitewww.jugendeinewelt.at The non-profit organisation Jugend Eine Welt ...

 

  关于与「王刚 (全国政协前副主席)」標題相近或相同的条目页,請見「王刚」。 王刚中国人民政治协商会议第十一届全国委员会副主席任期2008年3月—2013年3月 个人资料出生1942年10月(81歲) 滿洲國吉林省扶余县籍贯吉林扶余国籍 中华人民共和国政党 中国共产党 学历 吉林大学哲学系 王刚(1942年10月5日—),男,汉族,吉林扶余人,中华人民共和国政�...

1929 film Shanghai LadyDirected byJohn S. RobertsonScreenplay byHouston BranchWinifred ReeveBased onDrifting (play)by John ColtonDaisy H. AndrewsStarringMary NolanJames MurrayLydia Yeamans TitusWheeler OakmanAnders RandolfYola d'AvrilCinematographyHal MohrEdited byMilton CarruthProductioncompanyUniversal PicturesDistributed byUniversal PicturesRelease date November 17, 1929 (1929-11-17) Running time66 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish Shanghai Lady is a 1929 American P...

 

1975 ShellSPORT 5000 European Championship Previous 1974 Next 1976 The 1975 ShellSPORT 5000 European Championship [1] [2] [3] was a motor racing series for Formula 5000 cars.[4] The series was organized in the United Kingdom by the British Racing and Sports Car Club, but also incorporated European rounds.[5] It was the seventh and last in a sequence of annual European Formula 5000 Championships,[4] and the first to be contested as the ShellSPOR...