Has Christianity Enlightened the World?

If the introduction of [Christianity] into the world had been

calculated to accelerate the progress of human improvement, or to

render mankind wiser and happier, history should have recorded the

progressive steps of this accumulating knowledge. But instead of

this, the reverse stands confessed on the face of the record. When

did the light of science begin to extend its benign influence over

the surface of the globe? Was it at the commencement of the Christian

era, and did it keep pace with the progressive belief of the

Christian doctrines? Did the mind of man receive any impulse

beneficial to the cause of knowledge, when this religion was first

promulgated; and did the extension of useful information bear any

justifiable relation to the diffusion of Christian principles? Did

the world become either wiser or better after this religion had

unfolded its genuine effects for more than fifteen centuries? Was

this the cause of giving energy to the intellectual faculties of man?

Were the genuine principles of science, which are contained in the

system of nature, displayed and manifested by the establishment of

this religion? In a word, has Christianity enlightened the world? No!

But it has served as a means to suppress useful knowledge; for

neither the commencement nor progressive establishment of this

religion has contributed to useful information.

 --Elihu Palmer (1764-1806), Principles of Nature; or, A Development of the Moral Causes of Happiness and Misery Among the Human Species