Golden Legend
It is interesting to know that vast diffusion of various Christian stories in Europe started almost at the same time when Columbus discovered America, since printing technology was invented around 1450s.
The Golden Legend (Latin: Legenda aurea or Legenda sanctorum) is a collection of hagiographies by Jacobus de Voragine that became a late medieval bestseller. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived, compared to twenty or so of its nearest rivals.[1] It was likely compiled around the year 1260, although the text was added to over the centuries...
A medieval bestseller
Initially entitled Legenda sanctorum (Readings of the Saints), it gained its popularity under the title by which it is best known. It overtook and eclipsed earlier compilations of abridged legendaria, the Abbreviatio in gestis et miraculis sanctorum attributed to the Dominican chronicler Jean de Mailly and the Epilogus in gestis sanctorum of the Dominican preacher Bartholomew of Trent. Over eight hundred[3] manuscript copies of the work survive, and when printing was invented in the 1450s, editions appeared quickly, not only in Latin, but also in every major European language. Among incunabula, printed before 1500, Legenda aurea was printed in more editions than the Bible.[4] It was one of the first books William Caxton printed in the English language; Caxton's version appeared in 1483 and his translation was reprinted, reaching a ninth edition in 1527.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Legend
So, as Europeans started to deploy themselves in America, Christian stories started to prevail in Europe with a large-scale publication of the Golden Legend.
In other word, Christian influences on Europeans and Americans we today observe can be ascribed to the Golden Legend. Christians in these 500 years might be very different from those having lived between AD 1 to 1500.
In my feeling, we had better check the book to see critical features of Christianity in these 500 years.
54// HERE BEGINNETH THE RESURRECTION
Heretofore we have made mention of deviation of the human lineage, which dureth from Septuagesima unto Easter. Hereafter we shall make mention of the time of reconciliation. The resurrection of our Lord Jesu Christ was the third day after his death. And of this blessed resurrection seven things be to be considered. First, of the time that he was in the sepulchre, that be three days and three nights he was in the sepulchre, and the third day he arose. Secondly, wherefore he arose not anon when he was dead, but abode unto the third day. Thirdly, how he arose. Fourthly, wherefore his resurrection tarried not until the general resurrection. Fifthly, wherefore he arose. Sixthly, how ofttimes he appeared in his resurrection. And the seventh, how the holy fathers which were enclosed in a part of hell he delivered, and what he did, etc.http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/goldenLegend/resurrection.htm
It is not encouraging people to pursue truth of the world and God.
*** *** *** ***
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.