SuziQ welcome the the forum good to read your posts.

Never become discouraged by all the negative comments about Christians. There is somthing special in a relationship to God that atheists are afraid of; As you have noted such as USSR and China

Actually, Boxgum, Aquinas was working as a hired gun when he produced Summa Theologica. Aristotle's reputation was such that he was referred to as 'The Philosopher', and the rediscovery of his work, from the hands of the Moors, was dangerous to the Christian church, because any disparity between his words and those of Christian dogma was likely to be interpreted in favour of Aristotle. So the church commissioned Aquinas to 'reconcile' the current dogma and the words of The Philosopher. Not least because an influential reading of the pre-Christian philosophers gave them special credit – the fact of their being located closer in time to Christ was held to give them a more perfect understanding of Christ's words, and immunity from the (for want of a better phrase) Chinese whispers of biblical exegesis. An amusing, albeit fictional, illustration is to be found in 'The Name of the Rose' – the weight likely to be given to a work of Aristotle's on comedy is enough to incite murder in those who saw Christ as no laughing matter.

Aquinas didn't so much 'embrace' Aristotle as co-opt him, for pressing religio-political purposes. Having said that, I am more than happy to admit that he produced a towering work of both philosophy and theology. And yeah, you're right, monasticism produced double-entry book-keeping. I'm just not entirely sure why you're claiming that as a plus.

The strength of the liberal democratic system of government is out lined in an excellent article by Lawrence Mead.

OOps, the link was not transferred. You may find this article at on the Arts and Letters Daily web site.