The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries
"A provocative, insightful, challenging account of the rise of Christianity."  ---- Andrew M. Greeley, National Opinion Research Center, University of Chicago"Compelling reading...highly recommended."  --Library Journal"Rodney Stark's new book will challenge, provoke, and irritate. But anyone who has puzzled over Christianity's rise to dominance in the Roman Empire, after a scant four centuries, must read it. Here is theoretical brashness combined with disarming common sense, a capacious curiosity, and a most uncommon ability to tell a complicated story in simple prose." --Wayne A. Meeks, Yale University"Stark finds that Christians prospered the old-fashioned way: by providing a better, happier and more secure way of life.... In the end, Stark concludes, Christians 'revitalized' the Roman Empire."    --Kenneth Woodward,Newsweek"This book raises, simply and brilliantly, just the kinds of questions anyone concerned with early Christianity should ask."  --Christian Century"This book raises, simply and brilliantly, just the kinds of questions anyone concerned with early Christianity should ask."  ----The Christian Century