[js1138]

Every civilization will either fall or merge when suddenly confronted with a technologically superior culture. It's pretty obvious that most civilizations have had religion as a stablizing element, but this is not necessarily an honorific.

Religion has had varying effects; it has justified brutality and caused stagnation. I suppose I would have to agree that Christianity, with its valuing of the individual soul, may have given rise to individualism, which may have enabled science and led to political individualism. Unfortunately for theists, these blessings are indistinguishable from humanism.

[Ophiucus]

It's pretty obvious that most civilizations have had religion as a stablizing element, but this is not necessarily an honorific.

True, civilizations rise and fall for many reasons and it is a confluence of trends that leads to a fall. There has been a long discussion in history as to the effect of Christianity on the fall of Rome. It was a factor but not the sole cause. Also, nations have risen and fell irrespective of religion, perhaps it does have a stabilizing factor but it is not enough in and of itself.

I suppose I would have to agree that Christianity, with its valuing of the individual soul, may have given rise to individualism, which may have enabled science and led to political individualism. Unfortunately for theists, these blessings are indistinguishable from humanism

That's an interesting possibility although I would include Judaism as well.

Political individualism is a threat to any organization that prospers on groupthink and control of the masses. Mercantilism was a threat to feudalism and the Reformation was a threat to the Church - their responses were similar.

As is the response now.