Ray,
If you go to the link, you will see that it is from the Encyclopeadia Britannica and is well sourced. In fact, if you read it all the way thru you will find many of the quotes which you have supplied, and additionally you will find that the conclusion of the author aligns more with your thoughts than with mine.
As far as "feeling justified", I'm not in the business of "justifying" myself - that is the province of my Saviour, the One who will lift me up on the last day.
Love,
Wendy

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But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1 Corinthians 1:27