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Christians represent approximately 1.7-2 billion, Buddhists, one of the fast growing of the world's religions, represent up to 1.5 billion, Muslims represent about 1.5 billion and Hindus represents nearly one billion believers. The rest are largely agnostics or atheists or have tribal-based religious beliefs. Keep in mind, nearly 2/3rds of Mormons on record neither attend either church meetings nor the temple regularly, nor do they contribute regularly financially (i.e. are regular tithe payers). So, 4.3 million people out of 6.7 billion (of which Utah's 2.5 billion white people represent the majority of the members) merit an article from a major metropolitan newspaper? Give me a break. The 4th column of government (free press) deserves better critical thinking and better representation.
This was my first time attending conference in the conference center. I am still reveling in the spirit I felt there, and that I felt so personally administered to. Everyone needs the opportunity to attend conference, and to be able to feel the love and look into the faces of these inspired leaders.
Why are you trying so hard to discredit the LDS Church? Why is this news so unworthy for a major metropolitan newspaper? I have a feeling that if a article about the growth of any other religious, or anti-religious group appeared in the paper, you wouldn't be so upset.
If your math skills are as accute as your ability to read an encyclopedia, you should take the time frame of Mormonism compared to Buddists, Muslims, and etc., compute in the LDS growth statistics, multiply all that by the time frame of the conseption of the other religions you've mentioned and bingo... you may get the reason for the excitement over the growth of the church.
I am afraid that membership numbers are like home teaching percentages... highly inflated.
Gettin' a little carried away with your numbers there!
What percent of those "billions" of other world faiths that you listed fall into that same description you have for the LDS? Do you have ANY idea?
I do. Ever been to Tokyo? One of the largest cities in the world. You ask any citizen what faith they are and 99% will likely tell you they're Buddhist. Ask them a question about Buddhism and the majority can't tell you much if anything at all. Go to a Buddhist shrine during a religious holiday/observance and you'll see maybe a hundred there in worship at a particular time, out of a population of around 12 million. count up the number of Buddhist shrines in the city and I think you'll find that it's really a very small percent (even less than what you were so critical of the LDS faithful over). Other Christians are no different.
I think the problem is your personal bias v. the LDS Church
About Rob Shiveley's comments, according to wikipedia ("Worldwide percentage of adherents by religion",if you suppose this to be reliable information) it only claims that there are 400 million Buddists not 1.5 billion and the other figures are off. Rob does not know how many members are active, nor much about where the majority of the church membership is. It would do well with any member of any church to not to seek to destroy another religion through their prejudices and bad information.
The church is .19% of the world population not .0019%,which makes "Mormons" just behind the Jew population which is .20%. God never said his church nor people had to be the biggest.
I would encourage all to read the words of the prophets and seek the spirit in guidance so that they may come closer to Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Speaking of critical thinking.... Utah has 2.5 BILLION white people?? We should have a few more electoral votes...
It's no different with the 1.7-2 Billion "Christians" you mentioned. How many just go to church at Christmas/Easter, drop a few bucks in the collection plate and call it a good life?
Sounds like your problem isn't the article but your hard-feelings against the LDS.