Christianity has been more beneficial than detrimental to mankind.

Alright, my contentions to your five points are as follows, and I intend on my contentions also acting as counter arguments in themselves. 1. Copernicus and Bruno may disagree. In the age of the scientific revolution, the Church saw science as a direct threat to the status quo, and well into even the modern age, the main leaders of the Protestant sects are denying well accepted scientific theses (ie. evolution & geologic time scale). Not that this completely relates to the scientific revolution, but there is a trend, which must be acknowledged, between the incompatibility empirical reason and faith, which one doesn't only see in the Catholic Church stunting discovery in the 15th-19th Centuries, but in the modern day Protestants as well. Moreover, from a historical perspective, scientifically, philosophically, artistically, and politically, the greatest advancements man has seen since the Renaissance, have come from the Greeks and the Romans. Now, several debated factors played into the decline of the Roman empire, but high on the list, is the emergence of Christianity in the Roman Empire. In fact, just following Constantine's acceptance of Christianity in Rome, Europe plunged into the Dark Ages, where any sort of intellectual irreverence was punishable by death. It goes with out saying, that because of the emergence of Christianity, scientific development was retarded immensely. After 700 years of absolute devolution(and a low quality of life), Italy rose to prominence during the Renaissance, not BECAUSE of Christianity, but in spite of it. The High Renaissance thinkers, true, may have been Christians, but even more so, were secular humanists (which placed importance on life and development itself, instead of the afterlife exclusively, as the Christian ruled Medieval Ages had). This re emergence in the importance of reason, attributed to the findings of Greek and Roman (pre-Christian) manuscripts, or those held by the non-Christian Arabs, who were making mathematical and scientific advancements all of this time. One mustn't look far to see Christianity as a limiting factor on science for 1750 years. 2. I will most certainly concede Christian organizations have done good for developing countries, but at the price of rather blind indoctrination. In Africa, this indoctrination has led to genocide, faith based as well. Once again, a turn to history best serves this topic justice. Look at the missionary work done in the 19th and 20th centuries in sub-Saharan Africa, and how this led to imperial colonization and the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Not to mention the work of Spanish and Portuguese missionaries in the 15th and 16th centuries in Latin America. I will concede that the work that Christians have done through charity overall has been more beneficial than detrimental in the late 20th century, but with a more historical perspective, the atrocity some missionary work has caused, makes this issue a mere wash, and a weak point in why Christianity as a whole has been more beneficial. 3. Following what we now know was the Second Great Awakening in America, just about EVERYONE was a Christian. And sure, Garrison, Brown, and Fredrick Douglass were great Christian Abolitionists, but they did after all pray to the same God as Preston Brooks, Stephan A. Douglass, and just about every white southern slaveholder. The conflict was mainly between the Old Testament, which contained much slavery, and the New Testament, which for the most part condemned the practice. The first abolitionists were actually the founders, like Jefferson, Adams, Paine, and Franklin, all of which were abolitionists, and critics of Christianity. The best and most definitive tool against slavery came from Jefferson's immortal words in the Declaration (which was by the way edited to remove clauses denouncing slavery; Jefferson, not exactly a Christian). Oh, and it wasn't Christianity that tipped the scales towards abolition, no scales were tipped, but rather based off of sectional conflict. It was the Davis' unconditional surrender that ended slavery. Yes, Christianity was an influence on many of the civil rights leaders, but this argument isn't worth taking up, for I could cite some not so nice people who were also influenced by Christianity. It's again, a wash at best. 4. The three main uprisings that dethroned monarchies were the Glorious Revolution in England, the American Revolution (not a dethroning of a monarchy, but oppression none the less), and the French Revolution. All of which were secular and ideological, all of which were not Christian. The French Revolution in fact took back the Church's land in France. Your argument here is not too clear, and from here, it looks like you're claiming that American Protestantism is the 20th Century led to democracy. So if you would be so kind to revise.... 5. First off, Christianity does not hold a majority of the population in the world. 6.5 billion people, 2 billion Christians, you do the math. Thus you're first point is invalid. I would also disagree that taking guidelines from a religion is "easier" than from a law. For lies apply to everyone, and religious guidelines only apply to those who follow the religion. Christianity's codified morals are not superior to any other teachings. My parent's instilled these values in myself, yet they are non-religious. The values are from before the Bible or Jesus, and as Jefferson argued, may be innate. You say that "Christianity's set of rules and standards for how to live have been beneficial in at least keeping people trying to not do these actions that have negative consequences." I say these moral are obsolete, and haven't been held up by the religious and religious officials, and if many devout Christian's cannot obey, they are quite arbitrary. And, if we really want to get into the morals instilled in the Bible and not just the ten commandments, I would love to dust off my nasty little Old Testament for you. May I say, 'Exodus anyone???' Thank you