Posted by:
Brother Of Jerry
(
)
Date: March 21, 2018 04:37PM
This claim is based on an article by Rodney Stark in 1984, where he projected Mormonism's growth in the 1960s and 1970s ahead 100 years.
Two major problems with that. First, he picked a period of very high growth due to Baby Boomers (of which Mo families had many) were graduating college and starting families, the so-called Echo Boomers. Also, families joining LDS Inc because they were frightened by the Counterculture, sexual revolution, anti-war movement, etc. There was no reason to think that surge in growth during the 60s and 70s was going to continue for another century. In fact, it did not.
Second problem: the Internet.
I checked Amazon, and much to my surprise, Stark published a book collecting his writings on Mormonism, in 2005. The 1984 article is in the book, and no doubt this is why that ridiculous projection is still talked about in Mormon circles, because, like all good urban legends, it is something they desperately want to believe, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Mormonism-Rodney-Stark/dp/023113634XBlech.
Mormonism has roughly 5 million actual participating members today. I personally doubt it will ***EVER*** hit 20 million participating members, much less 265 million in 2080.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2018 04:38PM by Brother Of Jerry.