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)
Year
# of Christians
Percent of population 40
1,000
0.0017%
100
7,500
0.07%
200
218,000
0.36%
300
6,300,000
10.5%
350
34,000,000
56.5%
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 Deacons: servants
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 Chidester 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?