How Christianity Lead to Freedom, Capitalism and Western Success
The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Lead to Freedom, Capitalism and Western Success by Rodney Stark Random House, 2005
Living in western culture, the standard education on the history of the church has centered on the church's subjugation of the development of society throughout the centuries. The church is often written off in the history texts as a "hindrance to progress" and to 'modern advances' that promised to improve the standard of living for common people. Clerics and church leaders are portrayed as stagnators of progress through out history only to be reviled by an oppressed society.
Recently, several authors have emerged who have taken an opposing view of the church's influence on western society. One of them is sociologist Rodney Stark who teaches at Baylor University. In this fascinating book, Stark takes closer look through history at the influence of the church on the progression of western culture through the centuries. His premise is that contrary to what most historians have written about the church, it is the church and its leaders that contributed to forming a society that brought innovation and progress in western culture.
Stark reminds the reader that the premise of Christianity is the value of every human being and the freedom of human beings to live fruitful and productive lives. This premise translates into a history of thinking and practice that created the structure for our Western civilization that is based on free trade and capitalism. Stark begs a consideration of the nature of Christianity as it encouraged a reasoned approach to its scriptures so that one might make sense of the world around them. Unlike the historical Greek and Islamic religions that focus on other worldly existence (according to Greek thinking) and deterministic world view (the Muslim belief), Christianity promoted a theology of progress where its adherents were encouraged by their faith to pursue the well being of society for the sake of relationship with their God.
Contrary to the common belief that after the fall of the Roman Empire, western culture was submerged into the 'dark ages' until the enlightenment period, Stark points out several historians who have recorded the progress of western communities under the leadership of the church. Especially among monks and in communities that attached themselves to abbeys, these small cloisters began discovering innovative technology that gave rise to the optimism of the industrial age. The discovery of water mills to power rotating machinery, the invention of glasses and the clock, and the use of wind mills to harness wind power, all had their beginning in these small communities. Such evidence from period historians has caused modern scholars to rename the period the 'middle ages' to correct the 'dark' impression other historians have left on this time frame.
Stark points out that science had its roots in these cloisters at the beginning of the 12th century when schools and then universities took shape next to abbeys and cathedrals where clerics were also teachers, historians, scientists and doctors who promoted a level of learning unprecedented prior to this era. The passion for discovery and innovation Stark attributes to the worldview of the clerics who through their faith desired the well-being of human kind and their environment. Compassion for the sick and disadvantaged moved these individuals to discover ways of helping the less fortunate and discovering methods of healing and medicine that aided people in their recovery.
Capitalism arose out of the transition from these communities into cities of free enterprise and land ownership that fueled the common man's desire for innovation and progress. A pattern arose among the famous Italian city states of the middle age period where a free market mentality and a democratic approach led to incredible growth and prosperity for that era. The development of commerce and multi-national banking was encouraged and fostered during this period. Export and trade occurred freely and encouraged progress in manufacturing and craftsmanship. All this took place not in spite of the church, as many historians have led others to believe, but rather with the influence and blessing of the church. Stark distinctly points out how communities and cities that fell into rule by controlling despots did not fair as well as those that retained a more open free market enterprise. The difference in the outcome of the Spaniard Empire as opposed to the English and the French Empire as opposed to the Danish gives credence to the fact that those societies that promoted land ownership among the common people and free enterprise between cities and nations are those that led the way to further progress in the western world.
In all, Stark brings a convincing argument for readers to take a deeper look at the history of western culture and realize that Christianity was an impetus rather than a hindrance to the development of the modern world. Challenging Max Weber's notion that the protestant work ethic began during the reformation period, Stark emphasizes that it was simply a continuation of a Christian work ethic that persevered through the middle age period and continued on into the enlightenment period. Using copious references from historians both of the modern and pre-modern age, Stark will, at the least, cause the reader to contemplate the influence of Christianity upon our world that resulted in our present way of life.
At the end, Stark prompts the reader to consider why certain nations, such as China, are taking a closer look at how western culture developed and subsequently taking a keen interest in the influences of Christianity on the history of the culture, understanding that its principles lead to the prosperity and progress of its people. Such references cause the reader to seriously consider that what Stark suggests might in fact be closer to the truth than what has been traditionally communicated in the last two centuries.
Living in western culture, the standard education on the history of the church has centered on the church's subjugation of the development of society throughout the centuries. The church is often written off in the history texts as a "hindrance to progress" and to 'modern advances' that promised to improve the standard of living for common people. Clerics and church leaders are portrayed as stagnators of progress through out history only to be reviled by an oppressed society.
Recently, several authors have emerged who have taken an opposing view of the church's influence on western society. One of them is sociologist Rodney Stark who teaches at Baylor University. In this fascinating book, Stark takes closer look through history at the influence of the church on the progression of western culture through the centuries. His premise is that contrary to what most historians have written about the church, it is the church and its leaders that contributed to forming a society that brought innovation and progress in western culture.
Stark reminds the reader that the premise of Christianity is the value of every human being and the freedom of human beings to live fruitful and productive lives. This premise translates into a history of thinking and practice that created the structure for our Western civilization that is based on free trade and capitalism. Stark begs a consideration of the nature of Christianity as it encouraged a reasoned approach to its scriptures so that one might make sense of the world around them. Unlike the historical Greek and Islamic religions that focus on other worldly existence (according to Greek thinking) and deterministic world view (the Muslim belief), Christianity promoted a theology of progress where its adherents were encouraged by their faith to pursue the well being of society for the sake of relationship with their God.
Contrary to the common belief that after the fall of the Roman Empire, western culture was submerged into the 'dark ages' until the enlightenment period, Stark points out several historians who have recorded the progress of western communities under the leadership of the church. Especially among monks and in communities that attached themselves to abbeys, these small cloisters began discovering innovative technology that gave rise to the optimism of the industrial age. The discovery of water mills to power rotating machinery, the invention of glasses and the clock, and the use of wind mills to harness wind power, all had their beginning in these small communities. Such evidence from period historians has caused modern scholars to rename the period the 'middle ages' to correct the 'dark' impression other historians have left on this time frame.
Stark points out that science had its roots in these cloisters at the beginning of the 12th century when schools and then universities took shape next to abbeys and cathedrals where clerics were also teachers, historians, scientists and doctors who promoted a level of learning unprecedented prior to this era. The passion for discovery and innovation Stark attributes to the worldview of the clerics who through their faith desired the well-being of human kind and their environment. Compassion for the sick and disadvantaged moved these individuals to discover ways of helping the less fortunate and discovering methods of healing and medicine that aided people in their recovery.
Capitalism arose out of the transition from these communities into cities of free enterprise and land ownership that fueled the common man's desire for innovation and progress. A pattern arose among the famous Italian city states of the middle age period where a free market mentality and a democratic approach led to incredible growth and prosperity for that era. The development of commerce and multi-national banking was encouraged and fostered during this period. Export and trade occurred freely and encouraged progress in manufacturing and craftsmanship. All this took place not in spite of the church, as many historians have led others to believe, but rather with the influence and blessing of the church. Stark distinctly points out how communities and cities that fell into rule by controlling despots did not fair as well as those that retained a more open free market enterprise. The difference in the outcome of the Spaniard Empire as opposed to the English and the French Empire as opposed to the Danish gives credence to the fact that those societies that promoted land ownership among the common people and free enterprise between cities and nations are those that led the way to further progress in the western world.
In all, Stark brings a convincing argument for readers to take a deeper look at the history of western culture and realize that Christianity was an impetus rather than a hindrance to the development of the modern world. Challenging Max Weber's notion that the protestant work ethic began during the reformation period, Stark emphasizes that it was simply a continuation of a Christian work ethic that persevered through the middle age period and continued on into the enlightenment period. Using copious references from historians both of the modern and pre-modern age, Stark will, at the least, cause the reader to contemplate the influence of Christianity upon our world that resulted in our present way of life.
At the end, Stark prompts the reader to consider why certain nations, such as China, are taking a closer look at how western culture developed and subsequently taking a keen interest in the influences of Christianity on the history of the culture, understanding that its principles lead to the prosperity and progress of its people. Such references cause the reader to seriously consider that what Stark suggests might in fact be closer to the truth than what has been traditionally communicated in the last two centuries.
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