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Bearing False Witness

Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History

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Bearing False Witness

By: Rodney Stark
Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
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As we all know, and as many of our well-established textbooks have argued for decades, the Inquisition was one of the most frightening and bloody chapters in Western history, Pope Pius XII was anti-Semitic and rightfully called "Hitler's Pope", the Dark Ages were a stunting of the progress of knowledge to be redeemed only by the secular spirit of the Enlightenment, and the religious Crusades were an early example of the rapacious Western thirst for riches and power. But what if these long-held beliefs were all wrong?

In this stunning, powerful, and ultimately persuasive book, Rodney Stark, one of the most highly regarded sociologists of religion and the best-selling author of The Rise of Christianity, argues that some of our most firmly held ideas about history, ideas that paint the Catholic Church in the least positive light, are in fact fiction. Why have we held these wrongheaded ideas so strongly and for so long? And if our beliefs are wrong, what is the truth? In each chapter Stark takes on a well-established anti-Catholic myth, gives a fascinating history of how it became the conventional wisdom, and presents a startling picture of the real truth.

©2016 Rodney Stark (P)2016 Tantor Middle Ages Catholicism History Christianity Ministry & Evangelism War Biblical History & Culture Middle East Imperialism Bible Study Bibles & Bible Study Inspiring
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Critic reviews

"A majestically argued, gorgeously written, and essential book by one of the truly indispensable minds of our time. Bearing False Witness is one more gift to history from Rodney Stark. It should in turn be given to and read by students and professors everywhere, whatever their beliefs." (Mary Eberstadt, author of How the West Really Lost God)
Historical Accuracy • Well-researched Content • Accurate Pronunciation • Myth-busting Information • Balanced Perspective

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Stark does a good job fixing propagandist history about the Roman Catholic Church. Eye opening for those open minded enough to see past enlightenment propaganda.

Fixing propagandist history

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This read calls into question many of the things we are taught about the Middle Ages and questions whether some of the things we think we know may not have originated in anti-Catholic propaganda during and after the Reformation. Honestly, I never considered that possibility. The author makes a compelling case for revisiting our ideas. Far from the Renaissance emerging because of the lost chokehold of the Church over ideas and education, Stark reframes the period as one of a continuum, with thought, science, and technology having moved forward through the Middle Ages. He looks at how the Spanish Inquisition, a body that probably has the worst press agent of anything other than tapeworms, suppressed witch burnings when they flourished in other parts of Europe.

Some parts of the book differ so much from the versions of history I learned that I have difficulty accepting the materials. Other sections explain contradictions that have bothered me. At first, I suspected the author could be biased, but his identity as a self-described Lutheran who works at a predominantly Baptist university reassures me that the book is not just sour grapes.

The book makes great food for thought and has inspired me to revisit some of the history that I have learned, especially the history of science.

Should drive the reader to fact check- a lot!

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Eye opening and interesting.
Spectacular unbiased view of history.
Refreshingly honest.
Great to listed to on the road.

Fantastic read

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No education is complete without this myth busting book. As a 9th grader, I found it especially vital to correct my bird’s eye view of history while also shaping the details of my understanding. Please read this book!!
God bless you all.

Everyone ought to read this book.

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Great starting point for greater inquiry. Revisionism has its place, rightly or wrongfully, however there is only one truth. The seekers job is to remain objective and open, and to a large extent, an obligation to make available and known for the benefit of all.

A must for anyone in pursuit of truth

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