The Rise of Christianity

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: As someone who is trained as both a theologian and a sociologist, Stark has done an excellent job in challenging assumptions (e.g., how the mission to the Jews succeeded rather than failed, how a large number of early converts actually came from the upper classes, etc.) held by many contemporary scholars of early Christianity. Hopefully, this will throw these scholars back into the historical material and have them take a second look.

Rating:
Summary: Good work Rodney. A reader from KC
Review: Excellent book. If you want to learn about the success of Christianity in a social perspective this is the book you have to read. It connects the religious teachings of Jesus and His Church with the expansion of early (and late) Christianity.

Rating:
Summary: interesting theory
Review: stark's writing of the book is problematic because it is cluttered and very hard to comprehend. ...
I took off one whole star because of stark's disclaimer in the first chapter: "Before I proceed, however, it seems appropriate to discuss whether an attempt to explain the rise of Christianity is not somewhat sacrilegious.." I don't feel that Stark should tiptoe around possibly challenging theology if the book was written from a sociological and historical point of view. ...But Stark's information is concise, thorough, and very informative. That is why he received three stars from me.