[D7E]⋙ Read Gratis The Victory of Reason How Christianity Led to Freedom Capitalism and Western Success Rodney Stark 9781400062287 Books

The Victory of Reason How Christianity Led to Freedom Capitalism and Western Success Rodney Stark 9781400062287 Books

Download As PDF : The Victory of Reason How Christianity Led to Freedom Capitalism and Western Success Rodney Stark 9781400062287 Books

The Victory of Reason How Christianity Led to Freedom Capitalism and Western Success Rodney Stark 9781400062287 Books

This book will be contrary to what most of the history reading population have read or been taught about the Dark Ages. Rather than blaming Christianity for the Dark Ages, the author brings to light that Christianity actually was never in the dark and Europe and the West are the better for it. The book has a logical flow without sacrificing clarity and conciseness, thus an easy read that is not mucked up with too much detail.The book is not an apologetic for Christianity but an account of the part that various Christians (both Catholics and Protestants) played in the lead up to the Europe that came out of the Reformation and Renaissance periods. One example is that the so-called Protestant work ethic was actually around before there were Protestants!


Tags : The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success [Rodney Stark] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Many books have been written about the success of the West, analyzing why Europe was able to pull ahead of the rest of the world by the end of the Middle Ages. The most common explanations cite the West’s superior geography,Rodney Stark,The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success,Random House,1400062284,Christian Theology - History,Capitalism;Religious aspects;Christianity;History.,Christian civilization.,CAPITALISM,CHURCH AND ECONOMICS,Christian civilization,Christianity,Christianity - History - General,GENERAL,General Adult,History,History - General History,History World,HistoryWorld,History: World,Non-Fiction,RELIGION Christian Theology History,Religious aspects,United States,World - General,Civilization, Christian

The Victory of Reason How Christianity Led to Freedom Capitalism and Western Success Rodney Stark 9781400062287 Books Reviews

Stark makes many clearly, concise, and coherent points throughout this book. However, he does, at times, trip over his own facts that seem to undermine his case. He likes to assert that Catholicism supported Capitalism during the Middle Ages, but in the next breath, he mentions how those supposedly supported Capitalists had to flee Catholic lands in order to find freedom elsewhere. The bottom line is that the Capitalists did not stem from Catholic tradition, but rather Biblical tradition. They were neither "Catholic" nor "Protestant", but Christians. That being the case, those Capitalists fled from both groups. Stark does not make that distinction, and thusly falls into the trap of Protestant/Catholic history. Overall, however, he makes a sound argument in that Reason, Capitalism, Society, and Western Civilization could only have sprung from a Biblical tradition. He also has a quite insightful chapter about Christianity in persecuted regions that is well worth reading. But, once again, he does miss a number of Biblical connections in understanding how followers of Christ endure trials.
My interpretation of what Stark is trying to illuminate is how generally Christianity and more specifically Catholicism, ultimately led to Capitalism. If Christianity is the "spiritual truth" - and I believe it is, then the material truth is surely Capitalism. Capitalism is the great 'wealth creator' and without wealth creation, you cannot achieve physical well-being, i.e.> Health, nor can you reach man's wish to help his fellow man as demanded by the Christian ethos. This is a great MUST READ book!
This book provides historic data concerning the rise of capitalism over the past 1000 years or so. It is not something that they teach our kids in school, but it does show that two things have led to prosperity for the people of many countries in the past and they are Christianity and lack of government regulation and taxes. Although the writer has an anit-Protestant leaning, it does not take away from the important point of the book. It shows that no where in the history of the world has government intervention created a reasonably wealthy populace and contributing further to the benefit of the people is their belief in Christianity and its basic traditional tenants including private property rights and doing unto others as they would have them do unto you and also integrity in their work which is reflected in the good quality of the work product. When any of these factors are compromised, the workers have always suffered because of it. In addition it discusses other influences on why one country became well to do and others still to this day have a population of largely poor workers. I believe this book should at least be reviewed by everyone who has any interest in actual history of international economics. It will shine some light of day on the futility of some people's economic ideological dream world socialist visions.
A short read - well written as a summary of Western History to support the author's thesis. That is clearly described - namely that Christianity alone among the world's principle religions based theology on reason - not mysticism. From this European society was able to secure the key elements necessary for political/economic expansion - science, individual freedom, private property, rule of law, and ultimately capitalism. Rodney Stark expanded this theme later in his book which is based on the same thesis- How the West Won The neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity. He devotes much attention to dispelling old but popular myths such as medieval Europe living in a 'dark age'. But does accept some minor myths picked up from secondary sources, such as the role of stirrups. There is an extensive bibliograhy. For a much more extensive description of medieval economics read Peter Spufford's The Merchant in Medieval Europe.
This book was recommended, I recommend it ,too!!

With a BA in History, this is one of THE books that I would have LOVED to have read in college. While the "Dark Ages" were that, but out of it grew hope, and productivity. Literacy was good, but numeracy came about in 1338 AD with the "abacus school" and became just as important as literacy. Not only with the business class, but "most of the artisans and craftsman" as well. It further solidifies my research and the writing of my book, HWJDB How Would Jesus Do Business? Bible Secrets for Startups and Entrepreneurs. Stark writes that serving accounting ledgers showed "not a single error," never rounding, but even when accounting for millions of pounds (dollars), were accurate to the shillings (pennies). Not much different when my research showed Jesus talked about large sums of money, the talent, in a business context. The talent, the largest currency of the day, was over 200 lbs of gold or silver and at today's $1,300.00 an ounce makes the five talent "investment" to one slave equal to $20.8 MILLION DOLLARS!! My copy of Victory of Reason book is one of the few that is well marked up with tons of underlining and notes.

It is this revealing of hope in days gone by that shows there is hope for the future, and for that, I highly recommend this book for it's hopeful business, policy, and economic insights.
This book will be contrary to what most of the history reading population have read or been taught about the Dark Ages. Rather than blaming Christianity for the Dark Ages, the author brings to light that Christianity actually was never in the dark and Europe and the West are the better for it. The book has a logical flow without sacrificing clarity and conciseness, thus an easy read that is not mucked up with too much detail.The book is not an apologetic for Christianity but an account of the part that various Christians (both Catholics and Protestants) played in the lead up to the Europe that came out of the Reformation and Renaissance periods. One example is that the so-called Protestant work ethic was actually around before there were Protestants!