Catholic ecclesiastical organisation absorbed and monopolised cultural direction for centuries

Evidence

The Old Testament, the mystery religions, Greek philosophy, and Roman methods of administration were all blended in the Catholic Church, and combined to give it a strength which no earlier social organization had equalled. — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1817 (#expands, via linked claim)

The long dominion of Rome accustomed men to the idea of a single civilization under a single government. … The conception of one human family, one Catholic religion, one universal culture, and one worldwide State, has haunted men’s thoughts ever since its approximate realization by Rome. — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1130 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Protestantism outflanked the Counter-Reformation by exploiting vernacular print markets — Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on…, 178; The Catholic church maintained ideological unity by keeping intellectuals and masses doctrinally joined; The Catholic Church blended diverse historical, religious, and administrative traditions for strength — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1817 (+3 more)

Related

• Roman imperial rule inspired the universalist ideology of the medieval church (similarity 0.87)
• The Catholic Church blended diverse historical, religious, and administrative traditions for strength (similarity 0.86)
• The Catholic church maintained ideological unity by keeping intellectuals and masses doctrinally joined (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• Renaissance rulers borrowed the Church as their cultural apparatus instead of building their own #exemplifies (0.85)
• The Catholic Church blended diverse historical, religious, and administrative traditions for strength #expands (0.80) — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1817
• Roman imperial rule inspired the universalist ideology of the medieval church #expands (0.80) — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1130
• Secular institutions achieved large-scale cooperation by usurping religion’s community-building role #qualifies (0.75)