Article ID: | iaor2005660 |
Country: | United States |
Volume: | 23 |
Issue: | 4 |
Start Page Number: | 255 |
End Page Number: | 292 |
Publication Date: | Jan 1999 |
Journal: | Journal of Mathematical Sociology |
Authors: | Hayward John |
Keywords: | simulation: applications |
The possibility of using mathematics to model church growth is investigated using ideas from population modeling. It is proposed that a major mechanism of growth is through contact between religious enthusiasts and unbelievers, where the enthusiasts are only enthusiastic for a limited period. After that period they remain church members but less effective in recruitment. This leads to the general epidemic model which is applied to a variety of church growth situations. Results show that even a simple model like this can help understand the way in which churches grow, particularly in times of religious revival.