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I think you are inaccurately describing this "wildfire growth of Christianity in other countries" thing without pointing out certain facts that might explain it: for example, Christian growth is greatest in the parts of the world where education is the least developed i.e. Africa. Note, Africa contains the greatest number of newly-converted Christians; coincidentally it contains the greatest number of illiterate uneducated people in the world. As a comparison, Europe is a first world country with one of the highest literacy and education rates in the world, and it too, like America is experiencing a drop in the number of newly-converted Christians comparable to America.
Do you see the connection? .
Yes I see a connection:
1 Corinthians 1:19-21 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
The "smart" people in Jesus day opposed Jesus for why ... for being less than intelligent.
“Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? ... Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him.
This forum is proof of that.
Nearly every day we hear how Bible believers are less modern \ less intelligent \ less superior and for why .... for doing what Paul did in 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 by quoting God by quoting where we can find God's word.
This has happen many times. remember that not everyone has bible says is going to heaven. Still survey after survey says 70% believe in god. Its like sometime criminals seem to be the majority but that is far from true.this is a really large country and most places are peaceful and not in news constantly.
If Christianity is growing at an astonishing rate everywhere in the world except American that is wonderful, albeit bittersweet news. It shows that the Holy Spirit is electing to pour His Spirit out everywhere but here in America.
For as the Bible says, "No one can come to Me except the Spirit of God draws him" and the Holy Spirit has clearly excluded America from those who the Father chooses to draw to Him simply by virtue of the reality of the plummeting numbers of Americans who choose not to heed His call.
But why let a little detail like that get in the way of the other millions of unsaved who are being saved all over the rest of the world.
NIV Matthew 24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
The five fastest growing religions by conversions (new adherents per year, in millions):
1.Christianity........2,501,396
2.Islam...................865,558
3.Buddhism.............156,609
4.Sikhism.................28,961
5.Baha'is..................26,333
The five fastest growing religions in terms of absolute numbers (new adherents per year, in millions):
1.Christianity.................25,210,195
2.Islam.........................22,588,676
3.Hinduism....................12,533,734
4.Chinese folk-religions.....3,715,548
5.Buddhism.....................3,687,527
The five fastest growing religions by conversions (new adherents per year, in millions):
1.Christianity........2,501,396
2.Islam...................865,558
3.Buddhism.............156,609
4.Sikhism.................28,961
5.Baha'is..................26,333
The five fastest growing religions in terms of absolute numbers (new adherents per year, in millions):
1.Christianity.................25,210,195
2.Islam.........................22,588,676
3.Hinduism....................12,533,734
4.Chinese folk-religions.....3,715,548
5.Buddhism.....................3,687,527
That site is VERY suspect.
The World Christian Encyclopaedia has estimated the growth of the 12 classic world religions in the decade 1990-2000 (anual change in new adherents and percentage):
Without going into any deep analysis, there two issues that pop out right away.
First, they do not reference the source of their information for growth, nor the methodology utilized. That is a fundamental error in any statistical presentation. They do take some material from the CIA Factbook, but that is informative as opposed to statistically robust. There is no indication that there is any attempt to trace the number of people who drop out of a religion.
Second, they show conversions to religions which do not accept outside converts. Zoroastrians must be born into the religion, period. In another area, your website even admits this:
Zoroastrianism is generally a closed religion and members are almost always born to Zoroastrian parents.
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