Is it reasonable to assert that in the Christian world the influence of the church prior to the renaissance significantly delayed the point in time at which education, science, and technology began to have the seemingly constant and self-perpetuating transformative impact on human existence which they have had for the last 200 years or so?

If so (and perhaps even if on aggregate it's not the case), what primary evidence is there of the church either inadvertently or as a matter of policy, acting to prevent scientific endeavor, widespread literacy, or education?

If such evidence does exist, what was the scale and duration of overt or acknowledged policy/action?

​

I'm motivated to pose the question as I'm aware that I have based a lot of my worldview on a belief that organized religion inhibited progress and science, I'm unable though to honestly say that I have enough evidence to warrant my perception.

​

Thanks in advance for any responses.

(Please don't feel that I ask the question intending to defame any individual's faith, I'm asking a question about what men have or have not done in the name of religion, not what they should have done or been caused to do.)