Christianity’s Contributions to Civilization

Christianity’s Contributions to Civilization BY CHARLES DAVID ELDRIDGE. Originally published in 1928. Contents include: PART ONE: CHRISTIANITY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIVILIZATION DURING THE ROMAN EMPIRE PAGE L Christianity’s Triumph over Polytheism and the State Religion of the Roman Empire 13 II. Christianity Mitigates the Horrors of Slavery. ........ 21 III. Christianity and the Conquest of Social Evils 29 IV. Christianity and the Civilization of the Barbarian Tribes, 38 PART Two CHRISTIANITY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTELLECTUAL, RELIGIOUS, AND POLITICAL LIBERTY V. Christianity’s Contributions During the Feudal Age. 43 VL Christianity’s Contributions through the Renaissance. . 56 VII. Christianity’s Contributions through the Reformation. 61 VI I L Christianity’s Contributions through Protestantism among the Nations of Europe ,,.,.,,... 74 IX, Christianity’s Contributions through Protestantism in England 84 X. Christianity’s Contributions through Protestantism in the United States 98 XL Christianity’s Contributions to Democracy 105 PART THREE CHRISTIANITY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO ART, EDUCATION, AND LITERATURE XI L Christianity’s Contributions to Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture 119 XIIL Christianity’s Contributions to Music 136 XIV, Christianity’s Contributions to Education 143 XV. Christianity’s Contributions to Literature , . 160 PART FOUR CHRISTIANITY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIAL PROGRESS XVI. Christianity 1 *! Contributions to Social I deals and Values. 181 XVIL Christianity’s Contributions to the Brotherhood of Man, 193 ( 7) 8 CHRISTIANITY’S CONTRIBUTIONS CHAPTER XVIII. Christianity’s Contributions to the Uplift of Women . . , 199 XIX. Christianity’s Contributions to Humane Legislation. . 217 XX, Christianity and Modern Slavery, ,.,..,,. , 227 XXL Christianity and the Establishment $ Charitable Institutions , 2JS XXII. Christianity’s Contributions through the Work of John Wesley ....,.,,,.. 243 XXIII. Christianity and Prison Reform , . t , . 251 XXIV. Christianity and Temperance Reform. , 26H XXV. Christianity’s Contributions to the Mitigation of War, 268 PART FIVE CHRISTIANITY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NON-CHRIS TIAN PEOPLES OF TO-DAY XXVI. Christianity’s Impact on Non-Christian Peoples of To-Day. ....................... , , 281 PAUT Six CHRISTIANITY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF MANKIND XXVIL Christianity’s Contributions to the Reiigiou* Life of Mankind.. .. * ,..*.,.,.., 3 XXVIIL Christian Ideals Diffused through the Churchei and Humanitarian Organisations .,.,,...,,, XXIX. Christianity the Final and Universal Reltgicm , XXX. The Goal of Christianity.. ,.... FOREWORD: WHAT has Christianity meant to the world? It has worked, as a recent non-Christian, yet not wholly unsympathetic, critic has said, in a measure. But in what measure? What spheres of human life has it touched? How wide, how pervasive, how powerful has been its influence? Working-, as it necessarily has done, in the midst of, and against, and with, the human imperfections, has it, in spite of all that, made good moderately, or splendidly, or at least hopefully? Can it be said that its actual achievements have given good proof of its divine origin? Or is it to be counted as just one ( the highest, to be sure) among the many faiths In this believing world? Will it go on conquering and to conquer/ 1 or must we expect it to give place to something else, more fitted to advancing humanity, that successor itself not final, but to serve awhile, and then in its tuna to be displaced? These questions can be answered only by the accom plishments of the religion of Jesus in every department of life, what it has done and is doing. The average Christian, especially the younger, is abysmally Ignorant of the rock whence ye were hewn, the hole of the pit whence ye were digged. The on