This pamphlet offers a condensed history of Europe between the fall of the Roman empire and the twelfth century. The author’s profound anticlerical bias becomes apparent as he explores the influence of Christianity on a world in which order was maintained by the imposition of violence, and in which the general populace was kept in a state of ignorance and serfdom. He supports his conclusions with quotes from his own translations of documents of the period.
In the final sentence, McCabe sums up his view of the Dark Ages: “What claims to be the highest ethical religion in the world was followed after its general adoption by a general degradation of character to which you will find no parallel in the history of pagan civilization.”
Download and start listening now!
Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Joseph McCabe (1867–1956) was a Catholic priest and scholar who abandoned his faith in the 1890s and became one of the most active advocates of secularism and rationality in the early twentieth century. He wrote hundreds of books and pamphlets on a wide range of subjects and published translations of dozens of texts.
Oberon Michaels is an author and audiobook producer, living in Perth, Western Australia. For decades he has cultivated an interest in history, religion, metaphysics, meditation, and yoga. In previous lives, he was active as an instructor in martial arts and qi gong. His opinions are his own and not obfuscated by unnecessary learning. He is definitely a cat person.