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Rodney Stark's "fresh, blunt, and highly persuasive account of how the West was won—for Jesus" (Newsweek)—a provocative report that challenges conventional wisdom and finds that Christianity's astounding dominance of the Western world arose from its offer of a better, more secure way of life.
"Compelling reading" (Library Journal) that is sure to "generate spirited argument" (Publishers Weekly), this account of Christianity's remarkable growth within the Roman Empire is the subject of much fanfare. "Anyone who has puzzled over Christianity's rise to dominance ... must read it." says Yale University's Wayne A. Meeks, for The Rise of Christianity makes a compelling case for startling conclusions.
Combining his expertise in social science with historical evidence, and his insight into contemporary religion's appeal, Stark finds that early Christianity attracted the privileged rather than the poor, that most early converts were women or marginalized Jews—and ultimately "that Christianity was a success because it proved those who joined it with a more appealing, more assuring, happier, and perhaps longer life" (Andrew M. Greeley, University of Chicago).
It is a widely accepted notion that Christianity started as a clandestine movement among the poor. Yet this is one of many myths that must be discarded if we are to understand just how a tiny messianic movement on the edge of the Roman Empire became the dominant faith of Western civilization. In this fast-paced, highly readable book, Rodney Stark brings a sociologist’s perspective to bear on the puzzle behind the success of early Christianity. Not only does Stark have years of experience with the logic and methods of social science, but he also provides insights into why people convert and how new religious groups recruit members. The Rise of Christianity digs deep into the historical evidence to provide a vivid and unconventional account of early Christianity.
Rodney Stark, professor of sociology and comparative religion at the University of Washington, is widely recognized as one of the premier contemporary sociologists of religion. He is the co-author of The Churching of America, 1776-1990, with Roger Finke and A Theory of Religion, with William Sims Bainbridge. He lives in Seattle, WA. “A provocative, insightful, challenging account of the rise of Christianity.” - Andrew M. Greeley, National Opinion Research Center, University of ChicagoYou may also like
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