Is Islam the fastest growing religion? Why?

Answer 1

That appears to be highly debatable:

[edit] Claims to the fastest growing religion
Note that it would be an argumentum ad populum to claim that being the “fastest growing religion” has any logical consequences about the truth of that religion.


[edit] Buddhism
The Australian Bureau of statistics claims Buddhism to be the fastest growing religion in Australia in terms of percentage gain with a growth of 79.1% for the period 1996 to 2001 (200,000→358,000).[2]


[edit] Falun Gong
No reliable data is available for the number of adherents of Falun Gong but as this religion was only established in 1992 most of the growth must have been by conversion. Estimates for the number of adherents for 1999 range from 2 million[3] to 100 million.[4]


[edit] Christianity
As Christianity is the largest religion in the world, any increase in the world population will give Christianity a greater absolute number of new members.

The U.S. Center for World Mission claimed a growth rate of 2.3% for the period 1970 to 1996, (slightly higher than the world population growth rate at the time). This increased the percentage of Christians from 33.7% to 33.9%.
The World Christian Encyclopaedia estimates that there were 2,883,011 converts to Christianity each year between 1990 and 2000.[5]

[edit] Islam
Data for Islam reveal that the growing number of Muslims is due primarily to the higher than average birth-rates and consequent population growths of Muslim countries and communities.

In 2006, countries with a Muslim majority had an average population growth rate of 1.8% per year (when weighted by percentage Muslim and population size).[6] This compares with a world population growth rate of 1.12% per year.[7]
According to the World Christian Encyclopaedia, between 1990 and 2000, Islam received around 865,558 converts each year. This compares with an approximate 2,883,011 converts each year for Christianity during the same period.[5]
A United Nations' survey showed that between 1989 and 1998, Europe's Muslim population grew by more than 100 percent, due mainly to the effects of immigration from Muslim countries. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance have an unsourced claim of 2.9% per year.
The World Almanac Book of Facts 1935 estimated 209,020,000 Muslims in the World. The Readers Digest Almanac 1983, estimated 700,000,000, Comparing these two estimates gives an average annual growth of 5% or 10,228,750 for Islam over these 48 years.[8] But note that this value is as unreliable as these rates are calculated from two separate sources, which may have used different counting rules.
An additional cause is the ban on apostasy in Islam, coupled with propogation (or dawah) among non-Muslims. This is negligible as conversion is relatively a fraction of the growth rate.

[edit] Non-Religious
The American Religious Identification Survey gave Non-Religious groups the largest gain in terms of absolute numbers - 14,300,000 (8.4% of the population) to 29,400,000 (14.1% of the population) for the period 1990 to 2001 in the USA.[1][9].

[edit] Wicca
The American Religious Identification Survey gives Wicca an average annual growth of 143% / 11,454 for the period 1990 to 2001 (8,000→134,000 - U.S. data / similar for Canada & Australia).[1][9] (And this figure does not include self-identified pagans and druids, many of whom are also Wiccan.)

[edit] See also

Answer 2

I'm not sure how fastest growing is measured. Is it an absolute count, or a percentage? If it is a percentage, a percentage of what?

Nonetheless, many logically minded people are drawn to Islam because it makes sense.

Answer 3

I have heard news reports that it is the fastest growing religion. Why is a good question. I guess people like total authority and control over their lives.

Answer 4

Its through geographical components! the introduction of Islam started in the middle east and there have been no obstacles restrictin the aspects so ppl ought to freely unfold the religion Noreovercatholics have been becoming extra corrupt throughout the time of those days,zorastranism replaced into in its decline and Hinduism replaced into limited just to southern asia hence islam unfold rapidly

Answer 5

Well, it is growing, but not the fastest. Peganism/Wicca is the fastest growing religion in the U.S. If you could be more specific that would be helpfull!

Answer 6

Most religions make that claim...and few provide any reliable numbers to back it up. A claim worth a grain of salt.

Answer 7

It's the fastest growing brain tumor.

Answer 8

It appeals to men because according to the Koran, they can kill infidels with impunity and still go to heaven.

Answer 9

"Oh God, verily I ask Thee by Thy Name, in the name of Allah, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate, O the Possessor of Majesty and Splendour, the Living, the Self-subsistent, the Eternal, there is no God other than Thou, Oh He of Whom no one knows what He is, or how He is, or Where He is, or in respect of what He is, And yet, we know that He is."

Answer 10

Yes, because people are becoming more spiritual and looking for their personal right path.