Although it has been fashionable to deny it, anti-slavery doctrines began to appear in Christian theology soon after the decline of Rome and were accompanied by the eventual disappearance of slavery in all but the fringes of Christian Europe. When… — Rodney Stark Copy Share Image
“Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively… — Rodney Stark Copy Share Image
High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
“Keep in mind that democracy merely gives power to the people; it does not ensure that power will be used wisely or humanely.” — Rodney Stark Copy Share
“Laws requiring a certain frequency of church attendance, the taking of Communion, and baptism of infants soon appeared all across the Lutheran areas of… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
“But Christendom was not merely a community of warriors or even a community of the nobility. It was a civilization! Unfortunately, for generations everyone… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
“No doubt Western modernity has its limitations and discontents. Still, it is far better than the known alternatives—not only, or even primarily, because of… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
... All questions concerning the rise of Christianity are one: How was it done? How did a tiny and obscure messianic movement from the… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
“By the seventh century, Christianity probably was far stronger and more sophisticated in North Africa and Asia than in Europe.” — Rodney Stark Copy Share
There was only one decline in church attendance, and that was in the late 1960s when the Vatican said it was not a sin… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
“But following these Stone Age discoveries, progress was slow. It is estimated that in terms of the standard of living, things were pretty much… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
Mormons are an extraordinarily educated and professional population. They have all these virtues: They work hard, don't skip school, have no scandals. Consequently, you… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
Because God is perfect, his handiwork functions in accord with immutable principles. By the full use of our God-given powers of reason and observation,… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
Many people who say they have no religion are simply saying they have no official religious affiliation. They may actually have strong personal beliefs. — Rodney Stark Copy Share
“there is at least as much, and probably much more, variation on these matters among the Protestants of various types included in these merged… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
“What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews?’ Luther offered seven actions. First, to set fire to their synagogues… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
Leading Christian theologians such as Augustine and Aquinas were not what today might be called 'strict constructionists.' Rather, they celebrated reason as the means… — Rodney Stark Copy Share
