Summary of Rodney Stark's The Victory of Reason

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

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#1 Theology is the study of God, and it is a complex, highly rational discipline that only exists in Christianity. The East lacks theologians because those who might otherwise take up such an intellectual pursuit reject its first premise: the existence of a conscious, all-powerful God.

#2 The Bible does not condemn astrology, and the story of the Wise Men following the star might seem to suggest that it is valid. However, in the fifth century, Saint Augustine reasoned that astrology is false because to believe that one’s fate is predestined in the stars stands in opposition to God’s gift of free will.

#3 The primacy of reason was established in the Christian world through the teachings of Augustine, who argued that faith was dependent on reason. Other churchmen opposed the primacy given to reason, and argued that faith was best served by mysticism and spiritual experiences.

#4 Judaism and Islam are orthoprax religions, concerned with correct practice, whereas Christianity is an orthodox religion that emphasizes correct opinion. The three faiths have differed in this respect and with significant consequences.

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