My latest piece is linked below. In addition to Charles Freeman's book, discussed in the text, readers may also wish to consult Jane Jacobs, Dark Age Ahead.

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1418

Kenneth R Gregg - 11/13/2004

"In Rome, before it was co-opted by the State, early Christianity was in many ways a tax revolt against the Roman Empire’s increasing taxation burdens, ineptitude, and brutality. But instead of fighting taxes directly, which would have been quite fatal, the Christians sought to evade the Roman taxes by steering clear of the State and taking care of their own and others."

The Christian social legacy is certainly a mixed bag, full of positive messages for a philosophy of freedom, such as the above. Regrettably, these messages are swept aside by more negative ones when political leaders coopt the theology to proclaim their god as the god of war.

Just a thought.
Just Ken
kgregglv@cox.net