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The Rise of Christianity

The Rise of Christianity. Rodney A. Stark. Growth of Christianity. Question: how did Christians grow from a tiny percentage of the Roman empire population to its majority by the year 350? Factors Conversion through social networks “primary” and “secondary conversions Birth rates

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The Rise of Christianity

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  1. The Rise of Christianity Rodney A. Stark

  2. Growth of Christianity • Question: how did Christians grow from a tiny percentage of the Roman empire population to its majority by the year 350? • Factors • Conversion through social networks • “primary” and “secondary conversions • Birth rates • Urban networks • Epidemics • Role of women

  3. Estimates of population (Roman empire = 60 million people) From Stark, The Rise of Christianity, p. 7

  4. The role of women in Christian growth • More women converted (primary) • Led husbands in secondary conversions • Could use their wealth (widows) for church • Christian women had higher status? • Women had more to gain in converting, men had more to lose? • Christians had higher fertility rates • Spoke out against infanticide; had more girls • Lower rate of (v. dangerous) abortions and use of birth control

  5. What did early Christians do? • Meetings • Originally met in synagogues • After 70CE, met in house churches • By 300s, met in basilicas • Liturgy (work of the people; worship) • Met on Sundays • Had readings, “agape” meal (eucharist) • Needed to be baptized to participate fully • Big deal • Long preparation • Elaborate ritual

  6. Practice, continued • Ministries • Presbyters/priests • Some groups allowed female presiders, many did not • Deacons: servants • Helped in liturgies • Served needs of the community, especially poor and widows • Could be male or female • Bishops • Head of church in a city • Main cities: Rome, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria • Public symbol of continuity of apostle’s teachings • Itinerant preachers • Careful: some were frauds and freeloaders • Prophets

  7. Developments • Growth • Move from margins to mainstream • Church community starts looking more mainstream • Ex: limitation of women’s ministries as deacons: can only work with women • More resources: bigger church buildings

  8. For next time • Life of Antony • Why does he convert? • How is his story similar to Perpetua and Thecla’s? How different? • Why is he so focused on demons? • Chidester • How does monasticism contribute to the growth of Christianity?

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