Essay on How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization

Catholicism: A Very Short Introduction written by Gerald O’Collins is a short read that gives an insight to the Catholic church without getting confusing to the reader. It touches on the basics of Catholicism such as the history, practices, and core beliefs. Through each chapter Gerald O’Collins a research professor in the field of Theology at St. Mary’s University College and Twickenham, as well as formally Dean in Gregorian University for the faculty of Theology, shares his knowledge on the Catholic religion one question at a time.

The above statement can perhaps best sum up the relationship between Christianity and Europe throughout the ages. Christianity has been the strongest single influence in the history of Europe. Regardless of the century, no discussion would be complete without reference being made, at least in small part, to the Church. It is true that in recent centuries this influence has declined significantly, but nevertheless one could argue that it still plays an important part in the lives of many people. Throughout history Christianity has been both a unifying force and also a force for disunity.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages and into the duration of the Renaissance, the Medieval Church’s social and political power dwindled. Centuries prior the Catholic Church gained a surplus of control, largely due to the stability it maintained during the chaotic breakdown of the Western Roman Empire . Yet toward the end of the Middle Ages the Church set in motion factors that would ultimately lead to its downfall as the definitive figure of authority. However, despite political and social controversy surrounding the church, the institutions it established cleared a path for a new way of thinking, shaping society in an enduring way.

Why do we own the Catholic Church for built the Western Civilization? Thomas E. Woods, Jr. stated in How The Catholic Church Built Western Civilization; that “The church, in fact, built Western civilization”(1). Rather than presenting a story of the Church 's history, Woods chooses a topical approach, but he does so focusing on the history of the Church before the understanding and the writings of Gibbon. He covers the Church 's very important role in the conversion of the dangerous, wild people; the importance of related to monks as a preserver of western city or people; the Carolingian Renaissance; the development of the university; the coming into view of the Scientific Revolution; the beautiful art and related to the beautiful design and construction of buildings, and many more of the very old time in history period; the rise of international law in the Catholic argues against over the nature of the soul after meeting American Indians; pre-classical money flow or money-based studies; generous kindness and organization that helps people; and sense of right and wrong. The Catholic Church 's influence on the formation of labor unions in the eighteenth century was extremely significant because it was the church and science that help change the production of labor the Western civilization. Most people do not realize is that history experts of science have spent the past half-century extremely revising this set of things that most people believe now, arguing that the Church 's

When the Roman Empire collapsed, the Catholic Church was the only powerful authority not complete disrupted by the attack by barbarians. In fact, the work of great Popes is what helped their power increase even more. The newly christened barbarians, done by the Pope Gregory the Great, inaugurated a new age in Jesus Christ called Christendom. All culture in Christendom conformed to that of the Church’s, and, with its headquarters in Rome, the powerful “papal monarchs”, as they were called, controlled the machine that was the Catholic Church.

As time constantly presses forward and the earth continues to revolve, the world will never stop progressing and adapting to better suit the needs of mankind. The evolution of religion has greatly enhanced the quality of life for humanity by providing individuals with a strong belief system that is now the foundation of many peoples’ core values. One universal religion that has undergone extensive amounts of reform is Christianity. In particular, the Catholic church is well-known for the development of their famous ecumenical council meetings that help determine the future of the church. Numerous Councils have been conducted throughout the course of history, but none more significant than the most recent, the Second Vatican Council or Vatican II. The Catholic church was operating as if it was still the medieval period and desperately needed to be modernized. As a result, every Roman Catholic Church official was gathered to meet and devise a plan for how to introduce the church to the modern world. Consequently, the following will reveal the Second Vatican Council and the ramifications of the agenda, history and theology evolution, significant texts, and new developments.

Through the religious outlets, mainly the religiously-inspired, Papal revolution that occurred in the 11th century, the tradition was established and formed its everlasting mark on the legal system.1 The movement under Gregory VII was based on how the Church was founded by God, and the Pope was delegated the task of implementing all individuals in a society where divine law is the only law and is seen as the supreme ruler over the region, since he is an official of God on earth. During this movement, occurring from 1075-1122, the Pope and his followers tried to maintain the Bishop of Rome as the sole ruler of the Church, while preventing the control of kings over the ministry, which caused the Roman Catholic Church to form the first Western Legal System, a self-determining system of administration and law that would maintain its ecclesiastical roots. The primary distinction between this legal system and all of those prior to it is that it stood by and against the domain of the secular monarchies. Even though the clerical did not advocate most of the holy, religious responsibilities rulers had, the church understood the need to have sectors in secular governments.3 This reform’s spiritual basis was its main concern in terms of the ruler and system of law of the era. The creation of scriptural policies (e.g., Atonement and the Last Judgment) resulted in establishing Canon law, which is a major element of Western Legal Tradition and has affected the way individuals view legality, including how individuals viewed and dealt with issues such as criminal issues.2 The use of the revolution as a form of dividing the religious and secular dimension of Western Europe, and its systematization and rationalizing, were

The Protestant Reformation, throughout the middle ages, had a truly impactful effect in Europe and the Roman Catholic Church. Before the reformation, all Christians in Europe were primarily Roman Catholic; for it had dominated European civilization. Along with the priest, who provided people with forgiveness of sins, marriage, baptizing and other important duties, the Catholic Church was the “caretaker of the soul” and also owned one third of all the land in Europe. Evidently, the Catholic Church was quite powerful and had great say in a European Christian’s daily living.

Before the 16th century, the only form of government in most parts of the world is under some type of monarchy or church. Churches and the King are almost inseparable elite God followers as they hold the central power in their territory. However, the church’s strength soon begins to weaken when Martin Luther posts his Ninety-Five theses on a church’s door in 1517. What made it stand out and supportive by the public is the essays are discussing about the Pope’s not doing what God appointed him to do. The church is abusing their power to perform unethical and ungodly acts such as the sale of indulgences under the name of God, “…the pope coins money out of everything—indulgences, ceremonies, dispensations,

In Dr. Woods’s book, How the Church built Western Civilization, much insight is given on an unknown role of the Catholic Church. The Church isn’t known for their success but often there corruption. Many people overlook the fact that the Church’s values and beliefs built the Western Civilization. He writes “many people are aware of the corruptions rather than the good things” (20). Woods often argues throughout his book that without the Church’s help, the West would not have been what it is

During the 14 and 1500’s, the Catholic Church was the major powerhouse on the world stage. The church became the largest land owner, giving them massive amounts of economical power. With limitless amounts of power for the church, they were even more powerful than the king himself; they had their own taxes, laws, and they even could excommunicate the king if they chose to do so. The church made royal officials fear it while also gaining the support of the people, sometimes unwilling support was given. Indulgences were purchased in the hopes that their loved ones would be saved from Purgatory or even Hell. The church’s goal used to be helping all people and preaching the word of God, but now the church was corrupt and blinded by power and money, only one man could initiate the change needed, Martin Luther.

The church traced its history to Jesus of Nazareth, embracing rich classical cultural history while demonstrating power over its 1.1 billion members . In light of the decline of the Roman Empire, the rise of power was manifested in the Catholic Church as it showed dominance throughout Europe. Under the ruling of Pope Leo X, the church began the sale of indulgences in Germany. The principle is linked to the belief that a person’s journey to eternal salvation could be accelerate by means of worldly doings.

The Catholic church and the economy is not a phrase one hears regularly. However, I am not advocating that the church join the market, rather it should address the fundamental issues in the global market, especially dealing with capitalism and imperialism. Much like in ecology, we have been aware of the widening gap between the developing world and the post-industrial world for quite a few years and yet it just continued to widen. The super wealthy are controlling and allocating the money in the world and often this leads to suffering for those who are living in a developing nation. Even when large companies provide employment for workers in developing countries, the work is often dangerous and has long hours, not to mention little pay. As a universal body, the Catholic church has the ability to speak out against this and deliberate what is closest to God’s calling for each of the nation. It would not only benefit the people in poverty, but nations which are on the brink of economic collapse across the world, including Europe. By making the church’s moral teachings on this subject clear, the church can encourage its community across the world to try and make a positive change. While this is happening on a large scale between countries, this wealth gap is also seen within a country’s economy as well. Not only will becoming more balance benefit the world, but it will support the many Catholics in the

A 54-year-old Catholic woman stated in an interview conducted on the topic of the modernization of the church insightfully noted that Vatican II allowed for “practical changes,” like “ music and singing, and women allowed into upfront roles as readers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers, as well as altar servers in some places.” Vatican II “aimed to produce a different experience of the mass,” but also set out to reposition the church in a relative relationship with the modern world (Mathis).

It is understood after reading The Song of Roland and Inferno that religion, or one’s faith, played a large and important factor in the cultivation of living during the medieval time period. With the fall of the Roman Empire, there was no one thing that was able to bring together the differences that Europe offered. Religion, based mostly in Christianity, was that element that would not only bring together but shape the development of European society. With the influence of a higher power in daily life, to the fueling of wars in an attempt to have a global understanding, religious beliefs helped define existence as countries and cultures developed. Even with persecution, religion not only played an important role but was in many words—the mother—of