Economic cycles and revival
I think the buzz in recent years is that we are in or approaching a time of ‘revival’ in biblical Christianity. not just in America either, Lindsay Brown at SPRTE said a similar thing, placing this as a time of significant expansion in the gospel being effected in great part by the university student movement in Africa and South America.
This article from NY Times ‘Bad times draw bigger crowds‘ was an interesting read.
During each recession cycle between 1968 and 2004, the rate of growth in evangelical churches jumped by 50 percent
Apparently church attendance has swelled this year with ministers realising this may be a once in a lifetime event.
With the swelling attendance they were seeing, and a sense that worldwide calamities come along only once in an evangelist’s lifetime, the study has encouraged some to think big.
To be honest, I’m skeptical about the trend. Without having looked much further my guess is that attendance has increased in large part because the opportunity to work on sunday has (sadly) evaporated for many. So ‘less regulars’ may have become more regular boosting the week on week attendance figures.
Perhaps there have been many who having sacrificed greatly to the god of this age, the mighty free market, and have been left with nothing… making the creator’s voice a little less of a distant murmur. That would be great, praise God indeed if he is mocking our greed and saving people in droves! bring on the ‘revival’ if that is the case! Time will tell…
Does anyone know if we are seeing a similar trend in Aus? are we likely to? any stats/economics boffins reading? I haven’t noticed it at our church to date…
As a stats/economics boffin, I feel compelled to respond… I haven’t seen any data yet, so I can’t say. Who collects this type of data anyway?
Reply to SamCohenI don’t think we’re depressed enough. At the moment we’re still riding out this wave of the past boom (says the guy who can’t get a job). The next 12 months will be interesting. Anyway, it seems like formula of “Less money, more God; more money, less God”??
Reply to martyyep. I think so (still riding out the boom), although talking to some people working in the finance industry, architecture and to some extent engineers things are starting to look pretty bleak in Aus! I think these kinds of jobs tend to feel the force of a downturn earlier because they are at the front end of project spending…which seems to be drying up!
next 12 will be interesting…I do hope that you find work though marty!
Reply to reubenThank you prof. sam…
of course i have to reply: the kind of people who cant comment without having looked at the data
Reply to reuben