I'd argue that primarily Christianity helped form the societies that would allow scientists to flourish.

Other societies seemed to do this just fine without christianity.

The dark ages were almost nothing like people think they were

It was a period of cultural and economic deterioration. Try using something academic instead of dumb top 10 types of sources.

The inquisition and the Crusades were blips in time

It's irrelevant how long these events took place. What matters is that they took place.

But in reality, the Spanish inquisition started in 1478, and ended in 1834.

And the crusades took place from 1096 to 1487.

Hardly blips in time.

not actually caused by religion itself (scapegoat)

Bullshit. Several popes sanctioned the crusades, which was a series of attacks against anybody who wasn't christian, in hopes of taking back the holy land.

The inquisition, was established by catholic monarchs, intended to maintain Catholicism in their kingdoms.

Don't forget that religious people ultimately pushed for the end of slavery.

Don't forget, there was also many religious people that pushed for the continuation of slavery.

Not to mention the plethora of Christian scientists.

And many of these people lived in a time when it was extremely taboo not to be christian, and were brought up to be christian.

blatantly ignoring the plethora of good things that it caused or allowed to happen.

I don't deny that religion has done good things. I am just saying that the good things are heavily outweighed by the bad.