Rodney Stark Knihy

Kniha vyvracia zaužívané mýty a nepravdy o katolíckej cirkvi, pričom sa zaoberá témami ako inkvizícia, križiacke výpravy, postoj cirkvi k vede a slobodnému podnikaniu. Autor, Rodney Stark, profesor sociológie na Baylor University, nie je katolíkom, no jeho práca je podložená výskumom rešpektovaných vedcov. Niektoré protikatolícke mýty sú jednoduché na vyvrátenie; pohľad na gotickú katedrálu naznačuje, že „temný“ stredovek nebol až taký temný. Križiacke výpravy, ak si spomenieme na historické kontexty, sa už nemusia javiť ako nevyprovokovaná agresia. Skutočný rozsah týchto mýtov, ktoré mnohí z nás prijali, sa objasňuje až po prečítaní Starkovej knihy. Vladimír Palko, bývalý minister vnútra SR, vyjadruje vďaku autorovi za jeho nezlomnú húževnatosť a snahu o pravdu, a vyzýva historikov, aby prehodnotili svoje verdikty. Michael Novak, americký filozof slovenského pôvodu, tiež oceňuje Starkovu prácu a jeho prínos k historickej pravde. George Weigel, autor životopisu Jána Pavla II., tvrdí, že Starkova kniha je cenným príspevkom pre každého, kto sa zaoberá spoločenskými vedami.

The book explores the remarkable transformation of an obscure Jewish sect into the world's largest religion, highlighting the growth of Christianity, which now encompasses over 40 percent of the global population. Rodney Stark, a distinguished historian, delves into the social and historical factors that contributed to this rapid expansion, offering insights into the dynamics that have allowed Christianity to thrive across cultures and eras.

"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"--

In The victory of reason, sociologist Stark advances the idea that Christianity and its related institutions are directly responsible for the most significant intellectual, political, scientific, and economic breakthroughs of the past millennium. In Stark's view, what has propelled the West is not the tension between secular and nonsecular society, nor the pitting of science and the humanities against religious belief. Christian theology, Stark asserts, is the very font of reason. While the world's other great belief systems emphasized mystery, obedience, or introspection, Christianity alone embraced logic and reason as the path toward enlightenment, freedom, and progress.--From publisher description

Winner of the "Distinguished Book Award" from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, this work challenges the conventional understanding of American religious history. Critics praise it as a "pugnacious" reevaluation that is essential reading for both laypersons and scholars alike. The authors present a revolutionary analysis of the social history of American religion, arguing that organized religion has thrived in American society, which contradicts widely held beliefs. Their findings dismantle many established theories and biases, particularly the "establishment" perspective that has obscured the true pluralistic trends among Christian denominations. This compelling narrative not only prompts a serious rewrite of American religious history but also positions itself as a significant contribution to the field. The authors, Roger Finke and Rodney Stark, are respected scholars in sociology and religious studies, lending credibility to their groundbreaking insights. Their work is recommended for anyone interested in a fresh perspective on the dynamics of religion in America.

The book explores the remarkable rise of Christianity from its humble beginnings, focusing on the influential preaching of a Galilean carpenter. It examines the demographics of early followers, the spread of the faith, and the factors that contributed to its growth into the world's largest religion. Utilizing quantitative data and contemporary scholarship, Rodney Stark challenges established narratives about the early church's expansion, revealing new insights into its historical impact and the dynamics of belief and conversion.

In this page-turning, myth-busting history, acclaimed author Rodney Stark shows exactly why Western civilization triumphed over other cultures. Taking readers on a thrilling journey from ancient Greece to the present, Stark challenges much of the received wisdom about Western history, and debunks some absurd fabrications that have flourished in the past few decades.

Why do people join cults? Why do they leave? And how do they manage to stay in them, if that's what they've decided to do? What are cults, anyway? Moonies? Hare Krishnas? The Mormons? The Moral Majority? Manson? Rodney Stark, editor of Religious Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers, criticizes the media attention given to pseudo-experts on the cults. It seems odd, he says in his introduction, ôthat the media, usually so eager to reveal dirty secrets, fail to discover that some of their experts on religious movements are poorly regarded by others in the field, while most are held in no regard at all, since they have never participated in the field.ö His volume explores a broader range of issues and groups than is generally considered ôhotö by the press. Groups considered are-in addition to Rajneesh, the Unification Church and Hare Krishna, the Bo Peep UFO cult, the many faces of the ôhuman potentialö movement, the Moral Majority, Ian Paisley's Protestants in Northern Ireland, astrology and indigenous American groups such as the Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists. Instead of the tired ôbrainwashingö explanation of why people join fringe religious movements, this book provides clear-headed analyses of recruitment, disaffection and socialization in non-mainstream religious groups.

Rodney Stark's provocative work argues that our modern culture has been shaped by people acting for the glory of God. He explores the widespread consequences of monotheism, demonstrating how the Christian conception of God led to pivotal events such as the Protestant Reformation, the rise of modern science, the European witch-hunts, and the Western abolition of slavery. Stark explains the different cultural outcomes of Christian and Islamic images of God, highlighting why Christians fostered science, engaged in witch-hunts, and denounced slavery, while Muslims did not. He attributes these phenomena to the pressures within monotheistic organizations that maintain religious intensity, resulting in conflicts and schisms with significant social implications. Stark challenges commonly held beliefs, presenting the sixteenth-century scientific advancement not as a sudden break from religion but as a gradual evolution from medieval theology. He also links the same ideas about God that spurred scientific progress to the intense witch-hunting in Europe, even among notable scientists. Furthermore, he reveals that the Christian condemnation of slavery was intertwined with the fervor of some of the most zealous witch-hunters, who were also key figures in abolitionist movements. This narrative reshapes our understanding of religion's historical role and the forces behind what we consider secular progress.

This edition offers research, statistics and stories that document-increased participation in religious groups in the US in the 21st century. New chapters chart the development of African American churches from the early 19th century and the ethnic religious communities of recent immigrants.