Comments on: Rodney Stark on ‘The Rise of Christianity’ http://timchester.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/rodney-stark-on-the-rise-of-christianity/ reformed spirituality and missional church Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:26:31 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Mark Lattimore http://timchester.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/rodney-stark-on-the-rise-of-christianity/#comment-3535 Mark Lattimore Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:37:14 +0000 http://timchester.wordpress.com/?p=301#comment-3535 I started reading this today and just finished Chapter 2. I want to put a question out there. Is anyone else a little troubled by the characterization of early Christianity as a cult rather than as a sect, as defined by Stark? He seems to give short shrift to the idea that early Christians actually saw themselves as embracing Jewish orthodoxy (in the generic use of the term) and that the only, albeit striking, difference between them and their Jewish oppressors was that they believe Messiah had come. If this is true, as it seems to be accepted by most historians, doesn't early Christianity fit more into the definition of a sect, with all of the implications put forth by Stark regarding sect membership? I started reading this today and just finished Chapter 2. I want to put a question out there. Is anyone else a little troubled by the characterization of early Christianity as a cult rather than as a sect, as defined by Stark? He seems to give short shrift to the idea that early Christians actually saw themselves as embracing Jewish orthodoxy (in the generic use of the term) and that the only, albeit striking, difference between them and their Jewish oppressors was that they believe Messiah had come. If this is true, as it seems to be accepted by most historians, doesn’t early Christianity fit more into the definition of a sect, with all of the implications put forth by Stark regarding sect membership?

]]> By: E. I. Sanchez http://timchester.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/rodney-stark-on-the-rise-of-christianity/#comment-3209 E. I. Sanchez Tue, 06 May 2008 04:28:15 +0000 http://timchester.wordpress.com/?p=301#comment-3209 Thanks for the review. I was about to add this to my amazon favorites and I'm glad I ran a search before doing so... I'll skip it for now,. Thanks for the review. I was about to add this to my amazon favorites and I’m glad I ran a search before doing so…

I’ll skip it for now,.

]]> By: Tim Chester http://timchester.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/rodney-stark-on-the-rise-of-christianity/#comment-3088 Tim Chester Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:23:13 +0000 http://timchester.wordpress.com/?p=301#comment-3088 Hi Sean - no I'm afraid I haven't read it. Anyone else out there read it? Hi Sean – no I’m afraid I haven’t read it. Anyone else out there read it?

]]> By: Sean LeRoy http://timchester.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/rodney-stark-on-the-rise-of-christianity/#comment-3087 Sean LeRoy Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:17:08 +0000 http://timchester.wordpress.com/?p=301#comment-3087 Hey Tim, Have you read "How Christianity Changed the World" (zondervan, I think)? Can't remember the author...if so, I'd be interested in your thoughts. Hey Tim,
Have you read “How Christianity Changed the World” (zondervan, I think)? Can’t remember the author…if so, I’d be interested in your thoughts.

]]> By: Christian Times » Blog Archive » Rodney Stark on ‘The Rise of Christianity’ http://timchester.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/rodney-stark-on-the-rise-of-christianity/#comment-3086 Christian Times » Blog Archive » Rodney Stark on ‘The Rise of Christianity’ Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:36:54 +0000 http://timchester.wordpress.com/?p=301#comment-3086 [...] Kristina Wright [...] [...] Kristina Wright [...]

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