>
> What I am merely pointing out is that without the cultural improvements during
> the middle ages, the human race might well have salf-distructed with its
> scientific knowledge in the absence of cultural restraints. In a way, the alegded
> years may have, as a side effect of religion, allowed humanity to develop a moral
> asense. If religion had never happened, can you picture what would have happened
> if the 'useless' thousand years had been skipped and medieval barons, atheistic or
> otherwise, had gotten hold of some of the elements on my list?
The barons did! The Soviet Union nearly was as evil a nation as one can
get. Now we got China to content with. But if a religious state like
IRAN gets hold of the bomb, then its time to really worry! They believe
that dying in battle sends you straight to paradise! A deadly meme if
ever there was one.
Nate Hall