How much higher was Western civilization's standard of living than the rest of the world?
Western civilization’s standard of living rose to about ten times higher than any other place on earth. The context attributes this explosion to Christianity, which set people free from pagan superstition and idolatry, freeing societies for invention, science, and technology that flowed through Europe, England, and America.
Les explains that Western civilization exploded and brought its standard of living ten times higher than any other place on earth, and he repeatedly answers why: Christianity. He points out that as Paul went across the Aegean Sea into Greece, the Gospel went to Europe, and Europe became the breeding ground of inventions and men of science. That technology almost without exception came out of Western civilization, which had been predominantly Christian. Les says this happened because Christianity set people free, loosed them from the superstitions of the pagan world, and removed the hang-ups and detriment to women.