Why the Jehovah's witnesses grow so rapidly: A theoretical application

This paper applies a general theory of why religious movements succeed or fail to explain why the Jehovah's Witnesses are the most rapidly growing religious movement in the western world. In addition to qualitative assessments of Witness doctrines, organisational structures, internal networks,...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Stark, Rodney 1934-2022 (Author) ; Iannaccone, Laurence R. 1954- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Carfax Publ. [1997]
In: Journal of contemporary religion
Year: 1997, Volume: 12, Issue: 2, Pages: 133-157
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Description
Summary:This paper applies a general theory of why religious movements succeed or fail to explain why the Jehovah's Witnesses are the most rapidly growing religious movement in the western world. In addition to qualitative assessments of Witness doctrines, organisational structures, internal networks, and socialisation, we utilise quantitative data from a variety of sources to assess such things as the impact of failed prophesies, how "strictness"; eliminates free-riders and strengthens congregations, the demographic make-up of the Witness "labor force";, and the effects of continuity with local religious cultures on success.
ISSN:1469-9419
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of contemporary religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/13537909708580796