Fastest growing church group

[apothanein kerdos]

Can you give me the link where you found that wicca is the fastest religion? Somehow I find that hard to believe.....

The fastest growing religion (in terms of percentage) is Wicca -- a Neopagan religion that is sometimes referred to as Witchcraft. Numbers of adherents went from 8,000 in 1990 to 134,000 in 2001. Their numbers of adherents are doubling about every 30 months. 4,5 Wiccans in Australia have a very similar growth pattern, from fewer than 2,000 in 1996 to 9,000 in 2001. 10 In Canada, Wiccans and other Neopagans showed the greatest percentage growth of any faith group. They totaled 21,080 members in 1991, an increase of 281% when compared with 1990.

source

[Khristeeanos]

[Pax]

When you say fastest growing do you mean in percentage terms?

I mean Catholics will always have large numbers in growth because they are already large and some of their subgroups that follow their teachings will have large families.

But in percentage terms I would guess it is either non-denominational or Pentecostal, but I don't know, I will look at barna and see.

In terms of total members joining the churches.

And a large percent (from my understanding it is larger than most/all of the other groups) of these are not transfers, but are by baptism.

1DIEM,

You really shouldn't say who is saved and who isn't saved, because you really don't know. Judging peoples soul is left to God and God only. Take a mentally ill person who joins the Morman church because the that church reached out to that person in a time of need. That person really doesn't have the mental capacity to figure out the truth. Is that person going to hell? Take a child who is raised as a Muslim. They spend their whole life learning that Islam is the only way and that Christians are going to hell. Is that person going to hell? Every person and every situation is different, we are not to judge the eternal salvation of others, but only worry about ourselves.

[Work in Progress]

Take a mentally ill person who joins the Morman church because the that church reached out to that person in a time of need. That person really doesn't have the mental capacity to figure out the truth. Is that person going to hell? Take a child who is raised as a Muslim. They spend their whole life learning that Islam is the only way and that Christians are going to hell. Is that person going to hell?

Pax, I do agree with you that we should pay more attention to that plank in our own eye, but I think you are talking about apples and oranges here. There is a vast difference (IMO) between someone mentally incapable and someone raised in a false religion. There comes a time when one, no matter what they have been raised to believe, is responsible for his/her own beliefs. Scripture says that there is no excuse, even being raised in a false religion. JMO.

[Khristeeanos]

1DIEM,

You really shouldn't say who is saved and who isn't saved, because you really don't know. Judging peoples soul is left to God and God only. Take a mentally ill person who joins the Morman church because the that church reached out to that person in a time of need. That person really doesn't have the mental capacity to figure out the truth. Is that person going to hell? Take a child who is raised as a Muslim. They spend their whole life learning that Islam is the only way and that Christians are going to hell. Is that person going to hell? Every person and every situation is different, we are not to judge the eternal salvation of others, but only worry about ourselves.

I am not judging anybody or their relationship with God.

God alone holds the power to save person. And if God says you must do this or that to be saved and all others will be condemned (John 3:16 for starters), than we can properly determine that all Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, New Agers, etc. as well as all cult members will not be saved.

To say otherwise is to say that God goes against His Word, right?

Please give your thoughts on this.

[Anne]

wooo, guys put your breaks on!

Well spotted Yomo, for those of you who read my second post and assumed that Wicca was the fasted growing religion, please note that I misread a post prior to mine. So what I am saying is, go back read 1diem's posting on the fastest growing religion.

Thank you Yomo, I stand corrected

Your Sister in Jesus Christ

Anne

[other one]

1DIEM,

You really shouldn't say who is saved and who isn't saved, because you really don't know. Judging peoples soul is left to God and God only. Take a mentally ill person who joins the Morman church because the that church reached out to that person in a time of need. That person really doesn't have the mental capacity to figure out the truth. Is that person going to hell? Take a child who is raised as a Muslim. They spend their whole life learning that Islam is the only way and that Christians are going to hell. Is that person going to hell? Every person and every situation is different, we are not to judge the eternal salvation of others, but only worry about ourselves.

I am not judging anybody or their relationship with God.

God alone holds the power to save person. And if God says you must do this or that to be saved and all others will be condemned (John 3:16 for starters), than we can properly determine that all Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, New Agers, etc. as well as all cult members will not be saved.

To say otherwise is to say that God goes against His Word, right?

Please give your thoughts on this.

I grew up in the South West Church of Christ in Ada, Oklahoma. I also have good friends who are preachers in that church group, and cousins and an uncle or two who are decons or elders in their churches. All of them, "ALL" will tell you that if you are not baptized by a member of a Church of Christ you will not go to heaven.

1DIEM, does your church hold to the same teachings????

[Khristeeanos]

I grew up in the South West Church of Christ in Ada, Oklahoma. I also have good friends who are preachers in that church group, and cousins and an uncle or two who are decons or elders in their churches. All of them, "ALL" will tell you that if you are not baptized by a member of a Church of Christ you will not go to heaven.

1DIEM, does your church hold to the same teachings????

No, we absolutely do not hold that teaching.

I was baptized in a baptist church as was my lovely bride. We were not "re-baptized" in the church when we joined.

That teaching is an extreme teaching not the commonly taught teaching in our group of churches. But since all churches are independant and self-governing, every church may have slightly different rules.

And many people who I talk to say that the coc tends to be a bit on the legalistic side.

Our particular church is filled with life and love and freedom. We don't argue or bicker over things. There are even some members who drink socially, watch and read Harry Potter, and do many other things that would cause great strife amongst members in other congregations.

But it isn't tolerance of evil, it is freedom. I personally don't think that Christians should watch/read Harry Potter, but I don't judge or condemn someone who doesn't hold the same convictions as me.

We send out cards to visitors who give their address. It is like a questionaire. We get many back and they almost always say that our church is very warm and friendly and people feel comfortable.

And our personal beliefs aren't held so strictly to that we don't allow someone to join if they disagree on some issues. We have many people with different religious backgrounds in our church. We have different cultures represented.

We have people from mainline denominations and the Catholic Church.

Read our mission statement:

Northwest Christian Church exists to glorify God. We are a Bible-based people, drawn together in worship and service, committed to meeting the specific needs of our community through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that a Great Commitment to the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) and the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37-40) will produce a Great Church. We are striving constantly for excellence in equipping the body to point people to Christ.

Here is our website if you care to look it over.

http://www.nwcc.net

(I suggest using IE and not FireFox because FF tends to not work quite as well)

[HisWordIsSufficient]

I grew up in the South West Church of Christ in Ada, Oklahoma. I also have good friends who are preachers in that church group, and cousins and an uncle or two who are decons or elders in their churches. All of them, "ALL" will tell you that if you are not baptized by a member of a Church of Christ you will not go to heaven.

1DIEM, does your church hold to the same teachings????

No, we absolutely do not hold that teaching.

I was baptized in a baptist church as was my lovely bride. We were not "re-baptized" in the church when we joined.

That teaching is an extreme teaching not the commonly taught teaching in our group of churches. But since all churches are independant and self-governing, every church may have slightly different rules.

And many people who I talk to say that the coc tends to be a bit on the legalistic side.

Our particular church is filled with life and love and freedom. We don't argue or bicker over things. There are even some members who drink socially, watch and read Harry Potter, and do many other things that would cause great strife amongst members in other congregations.

But it isn't tolerance of evil, it is freedom. I personally don't think that Christians should watch/read Harry Potter, but I don't judge or condemn someone who doesn't hold the same convictions as me.

We send out cards to visitors who give their address. It is like a questionaire. We get many back and they almost always say that our church is very warm and friendly and people feel comfortable.

And our personal beliefs aren't held so strictly to that we don't allow someone to join if they disagree on some issues. We have many people with different religious backgrounds in our church. We have different cultures represented.

We have people from mainline denominations and the Catholic Church.

Read our mission statement:

Northwest Christian Church exists to glorify God. We are a Bible-based people, drawn together in worship and service, committed to meeting the specific needs of our community through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that a Great Commitment to the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) and the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37-40) will produce a Great Church. We are striving constantly for excellence in equipping the body to point people to Christ.

Here is our website if you care to look it over.

http://www.nwcc.net

(I suggest using IE and not FireFox because FF tends to not work quite as well)

I was baptised at the beach. i figure if a river is good enough for the brothers in the bible. its good enough for me. It was lovely.

[Khristeeanos]

I was baptised at the beach. i figure if a river is good enough for the brothers in the bible. its good enough for me. It was lovely.

That is cool.

I hope to visit Israel someday. I may ask to be baptized in the Jordan. Hmmmm.........

(wonders if he should start a thread about that)