--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial…" description: "\"I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to the study of early Christianity in posing the kinds of questions that he pursues (which reflec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/larry-hurtado-31747_backgrounds_i-think-rodney-stark-makes-a-substantial_2236453.jpg" --- # I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to… ![“I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to the study of early Christianity in posing the kinds of questions that he pursues (which reflect his social-science background).” quote by Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/larry-hurtado-31747_backgrounds_i-think-rodney-stark-makes-a-substantial_2236453.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/larry-hurtado-31747_backgrounds_i-think-rodney-stark-makes-a-substantial_2236453.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be9/larry-hurtado-31747_backgrounds_i-think-rodney-stark-makes-a-substantial_2236453.jpg) > “I think Rodney Stark makes a substantial contribution to the study of early Christianity in posing the kinds of questions that he pursues (which reflect his social-science background).” [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stark applies social‑science methods to early Christian history, asking questions about community dynamics and conversion. **In simple terms:** He uses sociology to study early Christianity. Key Takeaway Use interdisciplinary tools to deepen historical insight. Themes history religion sociology Mood analytical curious Type academic historical When to use this quote - academic research - theology courses - historical analysis Key Concepts social science methodology early Christianity Questions to Reflect On - How does sociology reshape our view of ancient faith? - What limits does a social lens have? A Different Perspective His conclusions may be contested by traditional scholars. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-science/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think that Rodney Stark puts his foot wrong on some things where he simply wasn't sufficiently current on scholarly developments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-that-rodney-stark-puts-his-foot-wrong-on-some-things-where-he/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I offer early Christianity as a case-study to show that the phenomena that we group under "religion(s)" comprise a somewhat artificial category, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-offer-early-christianity-as-a-case-study-to-show-that-the-phenomena/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Galen's observations reflect one of the distinctive features of early Christianity. Roman-era religion was mainly about ritual actions vis-à-vis the gods, and there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/galen-s-observations-reflect-one-of-the-distinctive-features-of-early/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [In Destroyer of the gods I focus on several major features of early Christianity that made it distinctive, even odd or bizarre .We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-destroyer-of-the-gods-i-focus-on-several-major-features-of-early/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Early Christianity, like Roman-era philosophical traditions, laid emphasis on everyday behavior, about how to live your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/early-christianity-like-roman-era-philosophical-traditions-laid/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think that Rodney Stark studies of new religious movements in the modern world give us some insights into the kinds of questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-that-rodney-stark-studies-of-new-religious-movements-in-the/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Rediscovering the controversies that occupied early Christianity sharpens our awareness of the major issue in the whole debate, then and now: What is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-pagels/rediscovering-the-controversies-that-occupied-early-christianity/) [Elaine Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-pagels/) > [“In a seminar at New York University in 1980, Foucault is reported to have said that the difference between late antiquity and early Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-critchley/in-a-seminar-at-new-york-university-in-1980-foucault-is-reported-to/) [Simon Critchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-critchley/) > [The science, the art, the jurisprudence, the chief political and social theories, of the modern world have grown out of Greece and Rome-not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-science-the-art-the-jurisprudence-the-chief-political-and-social/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Posing is a performing art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/posing-is-a-performing-art/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Look, I don't mind if the President sends a budget which he knows is not going to achieve anything. 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I was doused with oil and literally slid off the car, bikini,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-kita/one-time-i-was-posing-on-a-car-for-a-calendar-shoot-i-was-doused-with/) [Candace Kita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-kita/) > [There is a fair amount of competition, obviously, with ISIL and the terrorist networks around the world, China also posing a different kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-is-a-fair-amount-of-competition-obviously-with-isil-and-the/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [Posing the question: does the god of love use underarm deodorant, vaginal spray and fluoride toothpaste?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/posing-the-question-does-the-god-of-love-use-underarm-deodorant/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) ## More by Larry Hurtado > [Justin's testimony about becoming a Christian is that he had been searching various philosophical traditions of the time, and then accidentally encountered a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-s-testimony-about-becoming-a-christian-is-that-he-had-been/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [In the Marquette Lecture volume, I focus on the question in the title. I emphasize the social and political costs of being a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/in-the-marquette-lecture-volume-i-focus-on-the-question-in-the-title/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I think that Rodney Stark studies of new religious movements in the modern world give us some insights into the kinds of questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-think-that-rodney-stark-studies-of-new-religious-movements-in-the/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Justin Martyr says that he was impressed in his study of the Old Testament, at the seriousness and contents of these writings, and became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/justin-martyr-says-that-he-was-impressed-in-his-study-of-the-old/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Early Christianity, like Roman-era philosophical traditions, laid emphasis on everyday behavior, about how to live your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/early-christianity-like-roman-era-philosophical-traditions-laid/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [Studies of the people named and described in earliest Christian texts show that, right from the earliest years, they included craftsmen, merchants, and owners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/studies-of-the-people-named-and-described-in-earliest-christian-texts/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > ["Religions" of the Roman world varied. 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His comments are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/christians-practiced-moderation-and-chastity-in-marriage-for-example/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [I offer early Christianity as a case-study to show that the phenomena that we group under "religion(s)" comprise a somewhat artificial category, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/i-offer-early-christianity-as-a-case-study-to-show-that-the-phenomena/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) > [ Some modern scholars contend that in terms of what "religion" was in that \[Roman-era setting\], you can't even call Christianity a religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hurtado/some-modern-scholars-contend-that-in-terms-of-what-religion-was-in/) [Larry Hurtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) [Explore all 16 Larry Hurtado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hurtado/) ## More Backgrounds quotes > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. 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