Book Review: The Rise Of Christianity

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Book Review: The Rise Of Christianity

Reader Rating: 7.9/10

Salaams! The Rise Of Christianity is a book I borrowed at the last RLT Mtg from TimL, who had read & I believe reviewed it; StevenG was also reading then and raved on about it. I was not disappointed, though there were times I slogged through some rather dry, social-scientific-statistical-arithmetical equations and jargon. Overall, it was a fascinating book with a number of interesting observations and insights.

The core question at the heart of this book is: "How was it done? How did a tiny and obscure messianic movement from the edge of the Roman Empire dislodge classical paganism and become the dominant faith of Western civilization?"

Bottom line: Stark gives good evidence and reasoning for believing that Christianity grew in the early days at the rate of 40 percent per decade (or 3.42 percent per year). This figure, arrived at by good reasonable scholarly evidence, means that by the year A.D. 300 there were an estimated 5 - 7.5 million Christians throughout the Roman Empire. Beginning with a low estimate of 1,000 Christians by A.D. 40 (purposely low & conservative), this rate of growth statistically means there were approximately 33.8 million Christians in the Empire of some 60 million people (a whopping 56.5%!!) in A.D. 350. By this time contemporary writers were claiming a majority of Christians in the Empire, and Constantine had converted to Christianity and made it the state religion, and the world was never to be the same again.

But, what was it that caused this rapid rate of growth? Stark does a good job analyzing a number of factors, of which I found the most interesting to be:

1. A major factor was that the Christian movement remained an open and inclusive network of relationships which thrived on "direct and intimate interpersonal attachments." This network remained open and sought ways to make an impact on "adjacent social networks."
2. When epidemic disasters struck, as they did in 165 and in 250 with high mortality rates, Christians were better able to cope with them--they placed a high value on services to help those in their community who were afflicted (often to their own detriment). This factor is related to the theological foundation Christians possessed, as opposed to surrounding pagans who had no hope or reason to help others.
3. Prohibitions on infanticide, abortions, and adultery meant Christian women were more often more fertile--resulting in a much higher women to men sex ratio than pagans--and consequently enjoyed a higher status in society compared to pagan women (and leadership roles in churches!). Stark believes they were also often responsible for converting their pagan husbands, which added to the rapid rate of conversions.
4. Martyrs who willing gave their lives for the sake of the faith put an incredible, tangible value on Christianity to the those watching them, and the suffering and stigma early Christians experienced also worked to keep "free riders" (modern jargon -- free loaders!) to a minimum.
5. Last, but not least, Stark points out that an obvious factor (what he actually feels is the ultimate one) in the rapid rise & spread of Christianity was its central theological doctrines. "For God so loved the world..." was radical and revolutionary, as was its corollary, that just as God loves humans, so Christians must love one another. Even more radical was the tenet that this love should also be extended to those outside the family and immediate community.

I end with this very astute comment and observation by Stark in his final chapter (and related footnote):

"It is deemed bad taste nowadays to suggest that any religious doctrines are 'better' than any others.(1)
(1 ) So long as the doctrines are not fundamentalist, than which all doctrines are deemed to be better--a view I do not share."

Well put!

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The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force ....
by Rodney Stark "FINALLY, all questions concerning the rise of Christianity are one: How was it done?..." (more)

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Editorial Reviews
-- The Christian Century
"This book raises, simply and brilliantly, just the kinds of questions anyone concerned with early Christianity should ask."

Product Description:
This "fresh, blunt, and highly persuasive account of how the West was won--for Jesus" (Newsweek) is now available in paperback. Stark's provocative report 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).

Product Details
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco; 1st HarperCollins pbk. ed edition (June 18, 1997)
• ISBN: 0060677015
• Average Customer Review: based on 21 reviews. (Write a review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank in Books: #4,893
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"If you're not standing on the Edge,
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