Observation indicates that economic progress and technology originate from countries with
large Christian populations, particularly those of a Protestant or
evangelical persuasion. One can also observe that no noticeable progress
occurs in countries where other religions predominate, such
as Islam or Buddhism. For these reasons one can thank Jesus for
all modern economic progress, for if Jesus never existed there would be no
Christian populations.
Economic progress comes from Jesus because as the Son of God he inherited
eternal life, a divine characteristic, from his Father. Following his death
and resurrection Jesus was able to share his eternal life with all who would
accept it. When millions of Christian participants in the economy have
eternal life, the economy has eternal life, which means that it will
progress forever. As Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me
and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
(John 15:5)
Below is a partial list of technologies and advancements that were invented or
discovered following Jesus' death and resurrection. Some have been
superceded by better advancements. All who use these advancements are in
Jesus' debt and have reason to thank him. Sooner or later everyone on Earth
benefits from the use of modern technology so all must ultimately bow to him.
500s
Thank You Jesus!
for the greatly expanded use of Water Wheels and Water Mills
that occurred in the early medieval period. “From the sixth century on we
can trace a slowly expanding technology. The water wheel comes in the sixth
century, the stirrup in the eighth, the horse collar and the rudder in the
ninth, the windmill in the twelfth, and so on." (K. Boulding) "The
quantitative growth of medieval evidence [regarding watermills] appears to
be more than a mere reflection of the changing nature of surviving sources.
By Carolingian times, references to watermills in the Frankish Realm had
become 'innumerable.' At the time of the compilation of the Domesday
Book (1086), there were an estimated 6,500 watermills in England alone."
(Wikipedia) "The water wheel is understood to have actively shaped and
forever changed the outlook of Westerners. Europe began to transit from
human and animal muscle labor towards mechanical labor with the advent of
the water wheel. Medievalist Lynn White Jr. contended that the spread of
inanimate power sources was eloquent testimony to the emergence of the West
of a new attitude toward, power, work, nature, and above all else
technology." (Wikipedia) Pictured here is a 12th Century Belgian Water Mill.
1455
Thank You Jesus!
for the Printing Press. Pictured above is a replica of the
printing press created by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany on which over 100 copies of the
the first printed book, a Bible, was made in 1455.
1492
Thank You Jesus!
for the discovery of the New World. Spanish Explorer
Christopher Columbus discovered the New World of the Americas during an
attempt to sail west from Europe to Asia. Besides the the finding of much
new land for Old World settlers (with some opposition by natives), the
discovery led to the introduction of many New World crops and animals to the
Old World. These included corn (or maize), potatos, tomatos, pumpkins,
cocoa, vanilla, blueberries, strawberries, peanuts, rubber, and the turkey.
The discovery also led to the introduction of many crops and animals from
the Old World to the New. These included wheat, rice, rye, barley, apples,
pears, bananas, sugarcane, horses, cattle, donkeys, goats, sheep, and the
domestic cat.
1522
Thank You Jesus!
for the first circumnavigation of the globe. Spanish Explorer
Ferdinand Magellan headed a fleet of five ships which sailed from
Spain around the southern tip of South America and across the Pacific Ocean.
Magellan's ships reached the Phillipines where Magellan was killed in a
battle with natives. One of his ships managed to pick up a cargo of cloves
from the Spice Islands and returned to Spain by crossing the Indian Ocean
and sailing up the west coast of Africa. In Spain the cloves were worth more than their weight in gold.
1825
Thank You Jesus!
for Rail Transport. Pictured here is a 1925 recreation of the
1825 inauguration of the first public railway to use steam locomotives. The
railway ran 25 miles between Stockton-on-Tees and Darlington in northeast
England. The original inauguration locomotive pulled 21 coal wagons and a
coach. The train carried 450 to 600 passengers, most riding in empty coal
wagons fitted with seats. A few rode atop the 8 wagons full of coal. The
train left Stockton and arrived in Darlington 3 hours and 7 minutes later.
It had made two stops totalling 55 minutes along the way.
1901
Thank You Jesus!
for the Automobile. Pictured here is the first mass produced
automobile, the Oldsmobile Curved Dash. The car, produced on an assembly
line in Detroit, featured a gasoline engine, had a top speed of 20 mph, and sold for
US$650. 425 vehicles were produced in 1901 and a total of over 19,000 by
1907.
1903
Thank You Jesus!
for Powered Flight. As pictured here the first heavier than air
manned flight took
place
at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903.
1909
Thank You Jesus!
for Plastics. The invention of Bakelite, the first commerically
produced plastic, was announced on February, 5, 1909. Early telephones like
the one above as well as radios were commonly encased in Bakelite.
1983
Thank You Jesus!
for Cell Phones. The first cell phone call was placed on October
13, 1983 using this model phone, the DynaTAC 8000X.
