Oops, Stark's PhD is from Berkeley.

Stark is a prominent sociologist of Religion at UC Berkeley.

You might enjoy Rodney Stark's Rise of Christianity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The apostles who were the first to spread Christianity -- Peter, Nathaniel, James, etc. (except John) -- were all martyred. These were the men who know Jesus, who served with Him for three years. They died rather than deny that Jesus was the resurrected Christ, God in the flesh. They would have known whether they were spreading a fable or not. Who would knowingly die for a lie?

The early Christian church was greatly persecuted. A great many of the early Christians were Jews who were despised by the rest of the Jewish people. They were hunted and persecuted by Jewish leaders and Romans alike. Yet they believed, followed and spread their faith regardless.

Why did Christianity spread and flourish in the early decades? Because Jesus Christ is the Messiah, God come to earth to die for our sins and rise again.

I went to RCIA and was baptized at 36. One of my greatest interests is the historical Jesus and also examining the differences between Christian churches. I agree with the first paragraph. The martyrs had nothing to gain from spreading the word of Jesus, yet they did. Why would they have done this unless they truly understood who he was and what he stood for?

I appreciate the sentiment in these posts and I would like for you to step back and see that people of other religions have also died for their faith. Hunted down and persecuted for their faith. The faith they know, believe and would rather die than convert.

Please extend your worldview to see that just because people died for believing in Christianity, people have also died for being Jewish, for being Hindu, for being Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh, Wiccan, and any form of "pagan".

Because some apostles may have rather died than not believe in Christianity does not make it the "one true" religion. And the rising from the dead story is highly debatable and even many Christians believe this be metaphorical.

I wish people that believe in exclusionary religions could actually see that all the people of the world and their varying faiths have more in common than they do different. If you seek out these commonalities and be more inclusive you would feel God (in whichever name you choose) in your heart even stronger because that is the of core of religion- love and grace- not trying to one up the next religion and harvest the most souls to claim as your own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about what prompted early Christians to follow the religion. I am not into the spiritual issues, but more the social side. What forces would make someone adopt the religion under the threat of death from the Romans. I have read some, but I have not found any objective discussion about it.
I know that before Christ, people were looking at Judaism as an option. Practices like circumcision and kosher food put many off, then along came Paul who "marketed" the faith in a simpler way
What was the need that Christianity filled?

People had many religious options and were not looking for the one true religion. The upstart Christianity was one religion among the many religions that co-existed in ancient Rome. It wasn't until 325 AD that Rome adopted one official religion - Christianity - and that was based on a dream the emperor Constantine had that the christian god offered victory in battle.

Do you know of any other monotheistic religions at that time other than Judaism?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about what prompted early Christians to follow the religion. I am not into the spiritual issues, but more the social side. What forces would make someone adopt the religion under the threat of death from the Romans. I have read some, but I have not found any objective discussion about it.
I know that before Christ, people were looking at Judaism as an option. Practices like circumcision and kosher food put many off, then along came Paul who "marketed" the faith in a simpler way
What was the need that Christianity filled?

People had many religious options and were not looking for the one true religion. The upstart Christianity was one religion among the many religions that co-existed in ancient Rome. It wasn't until 325 AD that Rome adopted one official religion - Christianity - and that was based on a dream the emperor Constantine had that the christian god offered victory in battle.

Well actually, many people were looking for the "one true" religion just like many still are today. Constantine's conversion wasn't merely based on a dream; it was a political decision based on the growing ranks of Christians in his empire. There's evidence that his "conversion" wasn't particularly sincere.

Totally agree, but his mother was a follower of Christianity, and maybe he didn't "get" it, but he might have assumed that his mother knew what she was doing?

Anonymous wrote:The apostles who were the first to spread Christianity -- Peter, Nathaniel, James, etc. (except John) -- were all martyred. These were the men who know Jesus, who served with Him for three years. They died rather than deny that Jesus was the resurrected Christ, God in the flesh. They would have known whether they were spreading a fable or not. Who would knowingly die for a lie?

The early Christian church was greatly persecuted. A great many of the early Christians were Jews who were despised by the rest of the Jewish people. They were hunted and persecuted by Jewish leaders and Romans alike. Yet they believed, followed and spread their faith regardless.

Why did Christianity spread and flourish in the early decades? Because Jesus Christ is the Messiah, God come to earth to die for our sins and rise again.

I went to RCIA and was baptized at 36. One of my greatest interests is the historical Jesus and also examining the differences between Christian churches. I agree with the first paragraph. The martyrs had nothing to gain from spreading the word of Jesus, yet they did. Why would they have done this unless they truly understood who he was and what he stood for?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about what prompted early Christians to follow the religion. I am not into the spiritual issues, but more the social side. What forces would make someone adopt the religion under the threat of death from the Romans. I have read some, but I have not found any objective discussion about it.
I know that before Christ, people were looking at Judaism as an option. Practices like circumcision and kosher food put many off, then along came Paul who "marketed" the faith in a simpler way
What was the need that Christianity filled?

People had many religious options and were not looking for the one true religion. The upstart Christianity was one religion among the many religions that co-existed in ancient Rome. It wasn't until 325 AD that Rome adopted one official religion - Christianity - and that was based on a dream the emperor Constantine had that the christian god offered victory in battle.

Well actually, many people were looking for the "one true" religion just like many still are today. Constantine's conversion wasn't merely based on a dream; it was a political decision based on the growing ranks of Christians in his empire. There's evidence that his "conversion" wasn't particularly sincere.

Christianity appealed to people because of its basic message: love one another. Also, anyone could become a Christian, not so with many other religions where you had to be born into the faith.

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about what prompted early Christians to follow the religion. I am not into the spiritual issues, but more the social side. What forces would make someone adopt the religion under the threat of death from the Romans. I have read some, but I have not found any objective discussion about it.
I know that before Christ, people were looking at Judaism as an option. Practices like circumcision and kosher food put many off, then along came Paul who "marketed" the faith in a simpler way
What was the need that Christianity filled?

People had many religious options and were not looking for the one true religion. The upstart Christianity was one religion among the many religions that co-existed in ancient Rome. It wasn't until 325 AD that Rome adopted one official religion - Christianity - and that was based on a dream the emperor Constantine had that the christian god offered victory in battle.

OP - I don't want to sound too glib, but read the libretto to Jesus Christ Super Star. The desciples reflect the different things people saw in Jesus and his movement.

Anonymous wrote:Jesus' message appealed to a Roman audience because it did away with a lot of the less intuitive practices of other religions. So if you were wondering why God cared if you slaughtered a goat in his name, or why he cared what you ate, Jesus said, you're right, God doesn't care, let's strip it down to the basics: God wants you to love each other, love him, and love your enemy. Well, obviously there's more, like doing away with eye-for-eye justice. But this basic message had appeal outside of tribal identities and could appeal to your somewhat more cosmopolitan centurion.

Initially the Romans weren't threatened by Jesus--you can see this in the crucifixion accounts. As his movement grew, they did indeed become threatened by what they saw as, basically, an indigenous revolt, even if it was a more pacifist (turn the other cheek, render unto Caesar) challenge. As the message gained more followers, the Romans started to take it as a serious threat and the persecutions began.

Should add that I was taught that Jesus' message had broader appeal because it developed in a context of urbane Roman culture, in cities that were along trade routes where ideas were exchanged, as opposed to alternatives that were more tribal in identity.

Jesus' message appealed to a Roman audience because it did away with a lot of the less intuitive practices of other religions. So if you were wondering why God cared if you slaughtered a goat in his name, or why he cared what you ate, Jesus said, you're right, God doesn't care, let's strip it down to the basics: God wants you to love each other, love him, and love your enemy. Well, obviously there's more, like doing away with eye-for-eye justice. But this basic message had appeal outside of tribal identities and could appeal to your somewhat more cosmopolitan centurion.

Initially the Romans weren't threatened by Jesus--you can see this in the crucifixion accounts. As his movement grew, they did indeed become threatened by what they saw as, basically, an indigenous revolt, even if it was a more pacifist (turn the other cheek, render unto Caesar) challenge. As the message gained more followers, the Romans started to take it as a serious threat and the persecutions began.

NP-I read a fascinating, researched, academic yet readable book on this very topic years ago. Will try to remember the title and post it.

Read Cahill. Desire of the everlasting hills.