Which Religion Is the Fastest Growing On This Planet? A Book Review
Posted: Monday, May 23, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Author James Rutz, on his website depicts himself as follows: “Author, advertising copywriter, columnist, teacher, pioneer thinker, chronicler of the miraculous, spokesman for the worldwide House Church community...and all-around humble guy.” His book published in 2005 is at least, interesting. He brings out some facts which are indeed sound, although possibly embellished or better still, exaggerated.
Rutz has published other books: The Open Church (1992), Megashift: Igniting Spiritual Power (2005) (now in six languages), & The Meaning of Life (2006). He has also written a number of articles and is a regular contributing writer for World Net Daily.
His website an article entitled Ten Massive Changes Will Soon Transform Your Life, contains some factual information but unfortunately, there are numerous errors also, and this is one of the worst combinations of writings when the Bible is concerned. If his statistics are as much error as his statements concerning the number of miraculous resurrections of the dead, then the book is completely worthless. But based on other sources, I agree with some of the trends he brings into play, without knowing for sure if his numbers are correct.
Most people are aware that “Christianity”, as a whole, comprises the largest world wide religion in the world. However, its adherents are so divided and with differing doctrines that it is all who wear the name, are not truly Christians. However, we often read these days that Islam is rapidly growing, especially here in the United States.
According to “Adherents.com” there were approximately 2,200,000,000 worldwide who profess Christianity to some degree. That is roughly one third of the world population. The next largest group is those who follow Islam amounts to 1,780,000,000. The date of these figures were not shown, however, most of their current statistics are about a decade old.
But these figures are of no concern to Mr. Rutz, whose book has this as a first section header:
1. Jesus is winning! Within our lifetime, the entire world could become Christian.
The Earth is becoming Christian at a very fast clip. My best estimate is that there are 64 million more Christians now than a year ago. That breaks down to 175,000 a day (births plus conversions minus deaths).
Numbers are always debatable, of course, but I’ve consulted with several of the best religion statisticians on the planet and my stats are quite defensible, being based partly on a number of denominational surveys costing a total of $1.1 billion. History has never seen such a rapid and vast shift in loyalty and identity.(Ten Massive Changes Will Soon Transform Your Life-Jim Rutz, Wordpress)
The next four topics are listed as follows:
2. Over-the-top miracles are happening by the millions–mostly through ordinary people.
3. Our evangelism is becoming far more sophisticated and efficient (also less annoying)!
4. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Post-Modernism are headed for collapse.
5. Traditional churches are rapidly being replaced by something a lot better.
It is great to be optimistic, but it is better to be realistic. I differ with many of Rutz’ opinions. But it is true that worldwide, Christianity is growing rapidly in many nations. He points out that India, Africa, and a listing of other nations are rapidly turning to Christianity. At least part of this is true.
But he bases his optimism on some really far out ideas. I’m not so optimistic. He says that within a few years they will have perfected an auto which will be powered by water, soon afterwards, the oil producers will collapse and with that, goes Islam. Frankly, I find the most of his articles and book to be fantasy, mingled with some fact. To read a lot of his opinions, Click Here.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Thanks for your analysis of this gentlemen. There are certainly complex forces afoot directing change at many levels. Appreciated your take.Thank You Christofer, I appreciate your comments.
I believe even in religions that do not take a Christian stance are still doing the work of the Lord. They may not be aware of it but the Lord works in mysterious ways.
Hopefully islamic religions will dwindle, they are awful, cruel and controlling and tend to be calously used to justify cruelty to others.
However, all religions do come from one single religion that started long ago. That religion is Muslim. I do not believe in any religion and with this litte hidden piece of knowledge Im glad I dont.Thank you Kellie for reading and commenting. I don't agree that all religions came from Muslim. Islam IS the Muslims (Muslims are the people's name) religion and it is not an old religion at all, it was founded about 500 years after Christianity.. Prior to that, they worshipped idols, the sun, and just about everything else. Some of them had a different god to worship for each day of the year.
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