Praise for "Bearing False Witness"

"Rodney Stark gives the last acceptable prejudice a sound thrashing and clears up a lot of confused history along the way. Give this fine book to anyone you know who's been subjected to 'social studies.'" —George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center

"Growing up Catholic in the United States is to hear a constant stream of stuff that, one's experience shows, is just not true. Still I have always trusted that some unbiased non-Catholic scholar would one day look at the evidence (even its simple logic) again. Little did I imagine that this expected dispassionate historian would be so deeply informed, lucid, thorough, and blunt. Rodney Stark has done justice to neglected historical truth, and I am deeply grateful for his steady toughmindedness. His aim was to honor the truth, so now it remains for historians to look again, face his challenges, and come refreshed to their own verdicts." —Michael Novak, winner of the Templeton Prize (1994), author of The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism

"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 and It's Dangerous to Believe

"An elegantly written and lucid overview of the myths and fables produced by what has been described as 'America's oldest prejudice.' Directors of adult educa­tion groups should run out and buy this book." —Mark Massa SJ, dean, School of Theology and Ministry, Boston College

"If ever there was a book that was going to stir up controversy among historians, scholars of religion, sociologists, and politicians, then Bearing False Witness is it. In it, Rodney Stark rebuts, with his usual mastery of sources and mature judgment, the widespread 'black legends' about Catholic violence, bigotry, intolerance, and rejec­tion of modern science. Regardless of whether one agrees with all of his arguments, this book will be a most useful resource for educators and scholars alike, and due to its engaging and lucid style it is a must have for every history lover." —Ulrich L. Lehner, author of The Catholic Enlightenment