Skip to content

Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life Hardcover - 2004

by Rodney Stark


From the publisher

Though religion is for most people one of the most important aspects of their lives, social scientists and other observers of human society too often misunderstand and misrepresent the nature and role of religion in history and in daily life. From the supposed decline of religious attitudes in Western Europe and the venal motivations attributed to the Christian Crusaders to the very definition of religion, personal biases and an inadequate grasp of relevant data have led to the formulation and propagation of unsupportable views on the sacred. In Exploring the Religious Life, Rodney Stark boldly overturns much received wisdom within the social sciences about religion, drawing on a wide range of sources to reassess a diverse selection of topics in the study of religion.

In his first essay, Stark addresses the carelessness with which scholars use the term religion and the conviction that the belief in divinity evolved from the practice of magic in primitive cultures. In subsequent chapters, he challenges the widespread attitude among social scientists that religion is nothing more than a mask for material realities and examines the effectiveness of religious doctrines in attracting converts and influencing individuals; uncovers the surprising prevalence of upper-class asceticism in medieval Christianity; and explores the relationship between gender, piety, and criminal activity. Divine revelation is a central aspect of many religions, and Stark next applies empirical research to the phenomenon to assess its meaning in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism. He then turns to the confusion between faith and practice in debates over the secularization of the developed world before investigating the validity of the classic proposition within the social sciences that religion functions to sustain the moral order. He does so, examining the correlation between criminal behavior and depth of religious belief. Stark concludes with an essay on the ingenious methods he uses to unearth data about the popularity of new religions in California and northern Europe, the decline of Christian Science in America, the spread of Christianity in the Roman world, and the execution patterns during the antiwitchcraft frenzy of Enlightenment Europe.

Together, the essays that constitute Exploring the Religious Life offer an engaging introduction to Rodney Stark's provocative insights and a fearless challenge to academic perceptions about religion's place in history, society, and private life.

First line

It is often said that social scientists don't know what they're talking about.

Details

  • Title Exploring the Religious Life
  • Author Rodney Stark
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition 1st
  • Pages 220
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press, -
  • Date January 27, 2004
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Dust Cover, Illustrated, Index, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780801878442 / 0801878446
  • Weight 1.02 lbs (0.46 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.26 x 7.34 x 0.81 in (23.52 x 18.64 x 2.06 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Religious life, Religion and sociology
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2003010641
  • Dewey Decimal Code 306.6

Media reviews

Citations

  • Library Journal, 04/15/2004, Page 92

About the author

Rodney Stark was for many years a professor of sociology at the University of Washington. Since 2004, he has been University Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University. He is the author of numerous books, including One True God: Historical Consequences of Monotheism and The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-Hunts, and the End of Slavery.

Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$3.40
$4.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Johns Hopkins University Press. Hardcover in jacket. Former owner's bookplate on endpaper and some occasional light highlighting in text, else very good in very good jacket: binding sound, very light shelfwear. . Good. Hardcover. 2004.
Item Price
$3.40
$4.50 shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.00
$3.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Johns Hopkins University Press. Used - Very Good. 2004. Hardcover. Cloth, dj. Minor shelf-wear. Very Good. (Subject: Theology).
Item Price
$7.00
$3.50 shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Like New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.00
$3.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Johns Hopkins University Press. Used - Like New. Fine. Cloth, D-j. 2004. Originally published at $44.
Item Price
$7.00
$3.50 shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • New
  • Hardcover
Condition
New
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.25
$3.50 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Johns Hopkins University Press. New. Fine. Cloth, D-j. 2004. Originally published at $44.
Item Price
$7.25
$3.50 shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
Condition
UsedLikeNew
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Skokie, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$7.45
$4.00 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedLikeNew.
Item Price
$7.45
$4.00 shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$10.20
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Johns Hopkins University Press. Used - Very Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$10.20
FREE shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$14.74
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. Minor shelf wear
Item Price
$14.74
FREE shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$14.74
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. signs of little wear on the cover.
Item Price
$14.74
FREE shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
Condition
UsedLikeNew
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$15.06
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedLikeNew. Remainder mark
Item Price
$15.06
FREE shipping to USA
Exploring the Religious Life
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Exploring the Religious Life

by Stark, Rodney

  • Used
Condition
UsedLikeNew
ISBN 13
9780801878442
ISBN 10
0801878446
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$15.06
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedLikeNew. Remainder mark
Item Price
$15.06
FREE shipping to USA