Home / Authors / Rodney Stark

Rodney Stark

Rodney Stark Quotes

Professor

Rodney Stark, born on July 8, 1934, is an esteemed American sociologist and scholar of religious studies. His research focuses on the sociology of religion, particularly the relationship between religion and modern society. Professor Stark is renowned in the academic community for his in-depth research and unique insights.

Filter quotes by topic

All Religious Christian Atheism Positive Atheism Christianity People One Thing Science Western Atheist Belief Believe Claims Europe Form Has Beens May Mean Men Movement

Famous Rodney Stark Quotes

“That's true that I'm "not religious as that term is conventionally understood," though I've never been an atheist. Atheism is an active faith; it says, "I believe there is no God." But I don't know what I believe. I was brought up a Lutheran in Jamestown, North Dakota. I have trouble with faith. I'm not proud of this. I don't think it makes me an intellectual. I would believe if I could, and I may be able to before it's over. I would welcome that.”

“One thing about religious truths is that we have to take them on faith, and faith needs reassurance. What’s more reassuring than noticing that some other people, whom you admire, are so certain that it’s all true that they’re willing to go the ultimate mile?”

People Needs Certain Religious One Thing Atheism Willing Truth Is Ultimate Positive Atheism Miles Admire Noticing Reassurance Reassuring Religious Truth

Author:Rodney Stark

“The overwhelming majority of social scientists were irreligious or even anti-religious. This led them to believe that religion was a disappearing and unimportant factor in human affairs.”

Believe Humans Christian Social Religious Scientist Majority Affair Disappear Factors Overwhelming Unimportant Anti Religious

Author:Rodney Stark

“Evolution has primarily been an attack on religion by militant atheists who wrap themselves in the mantle of science in an effort to refute all religious claims concerning a creator - an effort that has also often attempted to suppress all scientific criticisms of Darwin's work.”

Religious Effort Evolution Criticism Claims Atheist Creator Wraps Militant

Book:For the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-Hunts, and the End of Slavery

Source: For the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-Hunts, and the End of Slavery

“Not only were science and religion compatible, they were inseparable--th e rise of science was achieved by deeply religious Christian scholars.”

Christian Religious Scholar Science And Religion Inseparable Compatible

Author:Rodney Stark

“America is an unusually religious nation.”

America Nations Religious

Author:Rodney Stark

“It can be demonstrated that in any society there is a distribution of religious tastes and concerns.”

Religious Taste Concern Distribution

Author:Rodney Stark

“It seems that not being religious is a form of risk-taking, consistent with other patterns of short-sighted behaviour in men.”

Men Seems Form Religious Risk Patterns Consistent Behaviour Risk-taking Short Sighted

Author:Rodney Stark

“Many people who say they have no religion are simply saying they have no official religious affiliation. They may actually have strong personal beliefs.”

People May Belief Strong Religious Officials Affiliation Strong Person Personal Beliefs

Author:Rodney Stark

“Theology is in disrepute among most Western intellectuals. The word is taken to mean a passe form of religious thinking that embraces irrationality and dogmatism. So too, Scholasticism.”

Thinking Mean Form Religious Taken Embrace Western Theology Irrationality Dogmatism Scholasticism

Book:How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity

Source: How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity

“The success of the West, including the rise of science, rested entirely on religious foundations, and the people who brought it about were devout Christians.”

People Christian Religious Foundation West Including

Book:The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success

Source: The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success

“That new technologies and techniques would be forthcoming was a fundamental article of Christian faith. Hence, no bishops or theologians denounced clocks or sailing ships-although both were condemned on religious grounds in various non-Western societies.”

Source: The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success