Bearing False Witness

Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History

By: Rodney Stark

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

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

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)

Everyone ought to read this book.

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.

A must for anyone in pursuit of truth

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.

2 sides to every story and this is the other side.

Much needed counterpoint To the usual monologue. The real history of the Catholic Church is not as. Simplistic and single sided as some would say.

TRUTH REVEALED!

The Anti-Catholic bigotry of many Protestant Scholars is soundly refuted with the plain truth of historical fact. This book does not exonerate sins of individual practitioners of Catholicism, but vindicates the Church as a Body by showing how it has been unjustly vilified for many "crimes" she simply did not commit.

Just the facts

Excellent collation and detailed research - I would say, irrefutable and well narrated. Very interesting details - clarifies history.