Medieval Golden Age, Modern Barbarism (Islam more civilized 800 years ago)

First Things ^ | ct 20, 2014 | Andrew Doran

[colorado tanker]

800 years ago would be the time of the 12th Century Renaissance and the time of the building of the great Gothic Cathedrals. The great universities were being founded. It was the time of Thomas Aquinas. Hardly a barbarous time in the West.

Since the author doesn't know his European history I am suspicious he knows his Arab history.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I think his main point was that 800 years ago would be LESS BARBAROUS for the Islamic community, than now.

I think that's a pretty safe bet. The Islamosphere is descending into chaos at the moment. They had an actual civilization in the so-called Golden Age of Al-Andalus. I don't think he';s saying the Christians were barbarians 800 years ago. Certainly not. It was a time of huge cultural energy, intellectual richness and creative achievement for the Christian West.