In this summary of Rodney Starks book “The Rise of Christianity” I will discussing chapters 1, 2, and 4, I found the arguments in these chapters most compelling giving the best overview on the rapid expansion of the Christian religion. Chapter 1 explains the rapid growth and conversion rate of the Christian population by providing charts, facts, and statistics about the conversion and growth rate of the Christian population. Chapter 2 explains the class basis of early Christianity giving multiple arguments on the social status of the Christian population. Chapter 4 discusses the Christian and Pagan responses to the massive epidemics and how these tragedies were large factors of the rapid growth and conversion of the Christian population. These
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Stark states a starting number of 1000 Christians in the year 40 giving a basis to start the projected growth chart. At an estimated total population of 60 million, If the Christian population grew at a rate of 40% per decade, the population of Christians in year 40 would be 1000 and year 350 would be a population of 33,882,008 if the growth rate stayed at a consistent 40% a decade. With a growth rate of 40% a decade arguably the only way to achieve a large number of Christian converts was through mass conversions. Stark states, “Eusebius tells us that early Christian missionaries were so empowered by the “divine Spirit” that “at the first hearing whole multitudes in a body eagerly embraced in their soul's piety towards the Creator of the universe” (13). Modern historians accept Eusebius’ claim on mass conversion regarding it as necessary for such a rapid growth rate to occur. Christianity was acted on by the Roman government through punishment, so how could massive conversions take place if the Christians were only able to meet in …show more content…
Several massive epidemics swept over the Roman Empire and destroyed a large percentage of the population. With these diseases taking control over the lives of the human population, social status and level of education didn't matter anymore. Stark develops three theses to describe the Christian and Pagan responses to the epidemics. The first thesis states that the Christian responded to the ill in a more comforting manner than the pagans projecting a more hopeful future. The second thesis states “Christian values of love and charity had, from the beginning, been translated into norms of social service and community solidarity” (74). The Christians were able to cope with disasters resulting in a higher population of Christians surviving after the epidemic. Starks third thesis “is an application of control theories in conformity” (75). Stark's argument is that because of the large casualty rate many survivors were lefts without their families and past relationships. Christians had a higher survival rate because of their care, comfort, and commitments to responding to the epidemics. If the controls theories in conformities are true than many pagan and nonreligious survivors turned to the Christians for help and
Stark states a starting number of 1000 Christians in the year 40 giving a basis to start the projected growth chart. At an estimated total population of 60 million, If the Christian population grew at a rate of 40% per decade, the population of Christians in year 40 would be 1000 and year 350 would be a population of 33,882,008 if the growth rate stayed at a consistent 40% a decade. With a growth rate of 40% a decade arguably the only way to achieve a large number of Christian converts was through mass conversions. Stark states, “Eusebius tells us that early Christian missionaries were so empowered by the “divine Spirit” that “at the first hearing whole multitudes in a body eagerly embraced in their soul's piety towards the Creator of the universe” (13). Modern historians accept Eusebius’ claim on mass conversion regarding it as necessary for such a rapid growth rate to occur. Christianity was acted on by the Roman government through punishment, so how could massive conversions take place if the Christians were only able to meet in …show more content…
Several massive epidemics swept over the Roman Empire and destroyed a large percentage of the population. With these diseases taking control over the lives of the human population, social status and level of education didn't matter anymore. Stark develops three theses to describe the Christian and Pagan responses to the epidemics. The first thesis states that the Christian responded to the ill in a more comforting manner than the pagans projecting a more hopeful future. The second thesis states “Christian values of love and charity had, from the beginning, been translated into norms of social service and community solidarity” (74). The Christians were able to cope with disasters resulting in a higher population of Christians surviving after the epidemic. Starks third thesis “is an application of control theories in conformity” (75). Stark's argument is that because of the large casualty rate many survivors were lefts without their families and past relationships. Christians had a higher survival rate because of their care, comfort, and commitments to responding to the epidemics. If the controls theories in conformities are true than many pagan and nonreligious survivors turned to the Christians for help and