Followers Quote by Rodney Stark
“Had the followers of Jesus remained an obscure Jewish sect, most of you would not have learned to read, and the rest of you would be reading from hand-copied scrolls.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Rise of Christianity,” Rodney Stark, 1996
If Christianity had stayed obscure, literacy would have lagged, as the faith spurred reading and copying texts.
In simple terms: Christianity boosted literacy.
Key Takeaway
Value education’s role in culture.
Themes
religion
literacy
history
Mood
thoughtful
historical
Type
academic
informative
When to use this quote
- church schools
- historical research
- public policy
- community programs
Key Concepts
cultural diffusion
education reform
Questions to Reflect On
- How does faith influence learning?
- What other movements spurred literacy?
A Different Perspective
Other factors also advanced literacy.
