Definition
Religions can grow in numbers because of conversion or because of higher birth rates in a religious group or both. Measures counting absolute numbers tend to favour the larger religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism for example which have at least 800 million followers and more). Measures counting percentage growth tend to favour smaller ones such as Wicca, Falun Gong and other minority religions.
The fastest growing religion could refer to:
- The religion whose absolute number of adherents is growing the fastest.
- The religion that is growing fastest in terms of percentage growth per year.
- The religion that is gaining the greatest number of converts in the world.
Read more about this topic: Claims To Be The Fastest-growing Religion
Famous quotes containing the word definition:
“It is very hard to give a just definition of love. The most we can say of it is this: that in the soul, it is a desire to rule; in the spirit, it is a sympathy; and in the body, it is but a hidden and subtle desire to possess—after many mysteries—what one loves.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)
“Perhaps the best definition of progress would be the continuing efforts of men and women to narrow the gap between the convenience of the powers that be and the unwritten charter.”
—Nadine Gordimer (b. 1923)
“... we all know the wag’s definition of a philanthropist: a man whose charity increases directly as the square of the distance.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)