[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

So you trot out a bunch of maybes, what-ifs, and could-haves. Maybe if they had have been Atheists they might have not painted at all. Maybe if they had have been Flying Spaghetti Monster worshipers they might have built temples in his honour. It doesn't matter. None of these people were doomed to mediocrity, as your original post insinuates.

No-one is being removed from their times; they are being admired specifically within them. Many of these people were inspired by their religion to create and learn. Galileo was deeply religious. The same with many great men and women of other cultures that followed another religion that was, in the end, still a religion. Ovid's Metamorphoses, Al-Asma'i, Al-Batanni, Angkor Wat, the Pyramids, Zigurrats. I could name a thousand different things inspired by religions, or done by religious men, all over the world. It doesn't change anything.

Religion inspired these remarkable feats, whether you like it or not, and whether you want to imagine what "could have been" if they weren't religious or not. To ignore everything that's been done in the name of religion and inspired BY religion is just plain ignorant on your part. And who are you to decide what a great Christian is, or what a great religious person of ANY creed is? Religion is remarkably personal.

Perhaps these greats you are speaking of were just playing the game and that game is sucking up to the powers that be. Religion was the power and power was held by point of sword and were largely the only people who had the ability to even record history. I know you have heard of the term winners write history. Can I prove my thoughts? of course not, but with the track record of religion I dont put it past them.