Have we fallen back into a new dark age of history?

Question

During the dark ages the real fear of the plague was used by the church and the powers that be to instill fear and control their subjects, allowing them to gain more control of their lives. Have we begun to enter a new dark age when the government uses fear of terrorism as a tool? In the Dark ages the measure taken by the church and state actually made the spread of the plague WORSE. Have we done the same with Iraq? How long will fear and hatred divide us?

Sorry if I got the timeline wrong on the dark ages. It wasn't about the plague, it was about the control of information. Thanks for the info and your opinions.

Answer 1

It is possible that if Democrats gain control of the government we will enter into a new dark age in the United States, but, that has nothing to do with Iraq.

The dark ages were not the fault of the Catholic Church. The dark ages were caused by power struggles and feuding between former states/territories of the fallen Roman Empire. The "dark ages" did not exist in China, India or South America.

This ridiculous claim that because a few power hungry people in Europe refused to communicate caused the world to fall into the dark ages is a bunch of arrogant BS.

The church was the only "international" European organization that maintained communications throughout Europe and as a result the church managed to become powerful as an information broker. The church also created a middle class guild of religious students and scribes that were contracted out to governments which allowed them to accumulate vast amounts of sensitive information about the individual European nations.

A lot of people are upset that the church did not communicate scientific information throughout Europe while they were in control of communications. This is like blaming Ford for not building submarines. Sure, Henry Ford owned a submarine but Ford Motors never mass produced them. It wasn't the purpose of Ford Motors to build submarines and it was not the purpose of the church to teach science.

Ford did build airplanes, because they wanted to and the church got involved in other things besides religion because they wanted to.

The arrogant stupidity of people who blame Ford for not building submarines or the church for not teaching science amazes me every time I hear this rubbish spouted.

On the other hand, Democrats did support slavery and oppose civil rights and since their current rhetoric about the war and Republicans is verbatim what the rhetoric against the civil war and Republicans was a hundred and fifty years ago there is no reason to believe Democrats have changed at all.

Therefore the Democrats are likely to create a new dark ages in the United States.

Answer 2

I don't think the two corrolate on any meaningful level. The plague first came to Europe in the 13th century, well after the dark ages ended (the dark ages usually span from the fall of Rome in 476 to around 1000AD. In addition the authorities took measures which they believed WOULD help - they were entirely and genuinly ignorant that what they were doing was wrong; the only innocent people in the Iraq story were those lied to by those in the know (i.e. in the Bush and possibly Blair administrations).

Governments and powerful organisations such as the church have ALWAYS used fear as a tool. During the pogroms against the Jews in many parts of the world, during the inquisition; but never more so in modern times than in the cold war. Fear and hatred have long divided humanity - it's got nothing to do with the dark ages.

Answer 3

Well, consider torture. The civilized countries of the world agreed that it was wrong; that's gotten tossed.

Or look at our economy: increasingly looking like the Middle Ages, with a few who own everything, and everyone else in effect owned by them, working harder and harder for less and less; a vanishing middle class.

And look at the growing theocracy, the anti-science attitudes (if it's now what the Bible says, it ain't true).

There are certainly trends away from civilization and into previous times.

No that I think we're going all the way back. But I do not like it, not one little bit.

On the other hand, the genie's out of the bottle. There are too many people commited to progress, and there's too much light shed on the wrongs.

I don't think the anti-humanity forces will win, but they're certainly trying their best.

Answer 4

uncertain, each technology likes to pretend they're residing in a era of great substitute. are not getting me incorrect - it extremely is an thrilling time to stay- yet to pretend that there is going to be a "be all-end all" 2nd any time quickly is naive. How are we commencing to fall? An monetary recession perchance? nicely it extremely is hardly going to break the planet. would desire to I remind you that even after Rome fell civilization in different aspects of the worldwide no longer in common terms survived - yet flourished because of the Romans failure. a gloomy Age seems unlikely - we are lots of a single, related society (confident the entire worldwide) in recent times which you will desire to no longer wish to coach all of us against one yet another, to coach the the completed worldwide inhabitants against itself. What would desire to alter is how human beings view the worldwide, and how the worldwide works - yet civilization won't enable itself to be ruined - if one society fails - yet another will take it extremely is place. (If it is the cycle you're pertaining to then i'd agree, i assume i became arguing extra in keeping with the 2012, worldwide ending, and so on. concept) besides, i does no longer be too worried approximately our society falling aside any time quickly the two - Rome knew it became screwed long in the previous the Goths got here prowling. If we've been as vulnerable as Rome became by using on the instant's standards - it would be like everyone terrorist team would desire to take over and burn long island to the floor - which for sure isn't the case.

Answer 5

In the future when historians look back and wonder what plunder, what mistake did our civilization make that resulted i our failure, it would be allowing the government that we have today to violate our civil liberties. They do use fear in an attempt to coerce the majority into what the minority want. It has been a shame as to what the government has done to this country. We are the most hated country in the world to date. If you would ask a random person (Not American) who do they hate more, US or Terrorists more than like they will say the U.S.

Answer 6

Before he died, Carl Sagan was concerned about the new dark age. His concerns are valid.

Just look at the populous.
Creationism as a science.
Conspiracy theories abound from 911 to "Chemtrails".

Answer 7

Mr. bush does try to use fear to bully. Fear only perpetuates the situation. Our government should be honest with us. I like to believe that most Americans are smart enough to see through Mr. bush's tactics.
The fear and hatred will continue to divide our country, as long as people continue to believe him.

Answer 8

Read "Dark Age America" by Morris Berman. It goes into that subject in detail.

Answer 9

Is this as absurd as saying the US's policies of excess and lasciviousness will bring down the country just as it did Rome?

Answer 10

No. Radical Muslims who have vowed a Jihad against the Infidels of the USA, are a very real danger.