I am sorry to say that I’m not a big fan of non-fiction. I like it when Dad reads aloud non-fiction books and I will occasionally pick up a practical non-fiction book. But non-fiction just for fun? Never. Why read dry books about ancient Rome or engineering or the life of Paul when you can read Agatha Christie? The only reason I would ever pick up a non-fiction book would be to feel self-satisfied and intelligent. Very sad. My views are changing now though. After finishing The Victory of Reason, I can honestly say that I am very excited for my next scholarly tome. It’s not that the book wasn’t a drag to read, because I did have to slog through a lot of tedious material, but it was extremely interesting. Extremely interesting.
Rodney Stark explains why Christianity is the force that thrust the ancient world into modernity. Because of it’s fundamental doctrines and values, Christianity gave birth to modern capitalism, progress, freedom and enlightenment. Belief in progress is intrinsically rooted in Christianity, making practical innovations, logic and learning quite natural, even compulsory to Christians. When tyrannical rulers were in power, the serfs and peasants under their rule had no reason to increase their productivity. Why produce more if it was all going to be taken away? There were no banks for their money, no investments to make with what little they had, ergo no motivation. The logical (and Christian) alternative to this problem was freedom. When there is individual freedom and free trade there will be progress, learning, and prosperity.
What I found particularly fascinating was the fact that even in the times of kings and despots, early forms of democracy and political freedom could be found in parts of Europe, especially Italy. Medieval Venice was far ahead of it’s time with it’s five level pyramidal government. An elected duke with limited powers at the top, then a six-member elected Ducal Council, followed by the Forty and the Senate. The Forty were basically a court of appeals, the Senate was composed of sixty men who concerned themselves with issues of commerce and foreign policy. These hundred were elected from the Great Council, who were in turn elected by the General Assembly. The General Assembly consisted of all the voting Venetians. Participation in Venetian politics was limited to a few elites at first, but became much more inclusive over time, especially when guilds became more powerful. Venice was also in a comfortable position physically, surrounded by marshes and water, so being attacked was very difficult. They grew in sea power and trade and began to produce textiles, dyes, shoes, eyeglasses, crystal and much more. Rodney Stark explained:
The “rebirth” of freedom in some parts of Europe was the result of three necessary elements: Christian ideals, small political units, and within them, the appearance of well-matched interest groups. There were no societies like these anywhere else in the world.
Another interesting point made was that contrary to popular belief, the Dark Ages were not a time of superstition and ignorance. In fact, Stark postulates that during the Dark Ages revolutionary innovations such as fulling mills, renovated horse collars, eyeglasses and clocks were invented and put into widespread practice in Christian Europe. Real science, not alchemy or astrology, but real, organized, practical science, also came about in Christian nations. In the beginning science and religion were inseparable because Christians were the only ones to not only observe, but theorize. Only in Europe did alchemy develop into chemistry, and astrology into astronomy. Stark says this is because Christians “believed it could be done, and should be done” (emphasis his). Christians believed that their God was a rational God, and so he made a rational world that they could work to understand. Other religions and cultures, including Islam, Greece, Rome, and China did not have this same belief in rationality. Their gods were mysterious and aloof. The Greek gods were subject to natural cycles, and were not conscious creators. The Chinese Tao was a formless impersonal essence, unable to do anything. The Muslim Allah on the other hand, was a very active participator in the world, thus creating a major theological obstacle. Natural laws were Muslim blasphemy, as they did not allow Allah freedom to act in this world. There was no room for science!
It seems that most modern scholars would like to forget about their Christian roots. The Victory of Reason provides enough reason to forget about forgetting.
