The rise of Christianity : a sociologist reconsiders history
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Bibliographic Information
The rise of Christianity : a sociologist reconsiders history
Princeton University Press, c1996
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Note
Bibliography: p. 223-242
Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
The idea that Christianity started as a clandestine movement among the poor is a widely accepted notion. Yet it 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 a fast-paced, highly readable book that addresses beliefs as well as historical facts, Rodney Stark brings a sociologist's perspective to bear on the puzzle behind the success of early Christianity. He comes equipped not only with the logic and methods of social science but also with insights gathered firsthand into why people convert and how new religious groups recruit members. He digs deep into the historical evidence on many issues--such as the social background of converts, the mission to the Jews, the status of women in the church, the role of martyrdom--to provide a vivid and unconventional account of early Christianity. The author plots the most plausible curve of Christian growth from the year 40 to 300. By the time of Constantine, Christianity had become a considerable force, with growth patterns very similar to those of modern-day successful religious movements.
An unusual number of Christian converts, for example, came from the educated, cosmopolitan classes. Because it offered a new perspective on familiar concepts and was not linked to ethnicity, Christianity had a large following among persons seeking to assimilate into the dominant culture, mainly Hellenized Jews. The oversupply of women in Christian communities--due partly to the respect and protection they received--led to intermarriages with pagans, hence more conversions, and to a high fertility rate. Stark points out, too, the role played by selflessness and faith. Amidst the epidemics, fires, and other disasters that beleaguered Greco-Roman cities, Christian communities were a stronghold of mutual aid, which resulted in a survival rate far greater than that of the pagans. In the meantime, voluntary martyrdom, especially a generation after the death of Christ, reinforced the commitment of the Christian rank and file. What Stark ultimately offers is a multifaceted portrait of early Christianity, one that appeals to practical reasoning, historical curiosity, and personal reflection.
Table of Contents
List of IllustrationsPrefaceCh. 1Conversion and Christian Growth3Ch. 2The Class Basis of Early Christianity29Ch. 3The Mission to the Jews: Why It Probably Succeeded49Ch. 4Epidemics, Networks, and Conversion73Ch. 5The Role of Women in Christian Growth95Ch. 6Christianizing the Urban Empire: A Quantitative Approach129Ch. 7Urban Chaos and Crisis: The Case of Antioch147Ch. 8The Martyrs: Sacrifice as Rational Choice163Ch. 9Opportunity and Organization191Ch. 10A Brief Reflection on Virtue209Notes217Bibliography223Index243
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