Christian martyrs. Prior to the introduction of Christianity, Europe was not a good place to be. Christianity civilized us.
You argue Christianity civilized Europe, but we are talking about what raised the West out of the darkness.
The founders, of course, fled Europe for religious freedom. You argue the "others" in your original premise were individuals. From a causal perspective, would it not be better to argue, as I would, the "others" were the founders/early Americans and thus it was the West that drew itself up out of the darkness?
One wonders how Christianity would appear today had "it" not torn away from the Crown.
One can also wonder how "it" will appear tomorrow as the U.S. increasingly dismisses the Church. As a wandering Episcopalian, I can see the evil and am sad for the Church.
Thanks for the link, 4yearlurker, I will check it out.
Yeah, for the past 110 years Europe was the epitome of civilization. Of course there are exceptions, like between 1914 and 1946.