Rodney Stark Book order

An expose of ten popular misconceptions about the oppressive role of the Catholic Church in history.

An expose of over-inflated claims about the Reformation and what it has done for us.

As we all know and as many of our well established textbooks have argued for decades, the Inquisition was one of the most frightening and bloody chapters in Western history, Pope Pius XII was anti-Semitic and rightfully called “Hitler’s Pope,” the Dark Ages were a stunting of the progress of knowledge to be redeemed only by the secular spirit of the Enlightenment, and the religious Crusades were an early example of the rapacious Western thirst for riches and power. But what if these long held beliefs were all wrong? In this book, Rodney Stark, one of the most highly regarded sociologists of religion and bestselling author of The Rise of Christianity argues that some of our most firmly held ideas about history, ideas that paint the Catholic Church in the least positive light are, in fact, fiction. Why have we held these wrongheaded ideas so strongly and for so long? And if our beliefs are wrong, what, in fact, is the truth?<

Believe it or not, the world is more religious than ever before-and bestselling author Rodney Stark has the numbers to prove it: Stark explodes the myth that people around the world are abandoning religion for secularism- and he shows why the growth of religion matters.

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.

Celebrated religious and social historian Rodney Stark traces the extraordinary rise of Christianity through its most pivotal and controversial moments to offer fresh perspective on the history of the world’s largest religion. In The Triumph of Christianity, the author of God’s Battalions and The Rise of Christianity gathers and refines decades of powerful research and discovery into one concentrated, concise, and highly readable volume that explores Christianity’s most crucial episodes. The unique format of Triumph of Christianity allows Stark to avoid dense chronologies and difficult back stories, bringing readers right to the heart of Christian history’s most vital controversies and enduring lessons.

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 truth about the Christian Crusades and Muslim Jihad.

This award-winning book explores significant themes in theology and ethics, providing deep insights into the relationship between faith and moral decision-making. It challenges readers to reflect on contemporary ethical dilemmas through a Christian lens, offering a thoughtful examination of how theological principles can inform ethical practices. With a focus on real-world applications, it engages both scholars and lay readers in meaningful discussions about faith's role in navigating complex moral landscapes.