The Triumph of Christianity by Rodney Stark

Based on more than a million interviews in 163 countries since 2005, Stark commented on the data from Gallup World Poll: “Never has a scholar had access to such a body of data, and I am very grateful to the Gallup organization for its generosity.” He relies heavily on statistics and polling numbers to make his case, especially his special access to Gallup World Poll data. He shows how religion has proved resilient and even grown in the most challenging places on earth, dedicating chapters to Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, China, the “Four Asian Tigers,” India, and the United States. In The Triumph of Faith, Stark profiles the condition of religion in major regions and nations across the globe, providing meticulous research to support his claims. “Never before have four out of five people on earth claimed to belong to one of the great world faiths.” “Contrary to the constant predictions that religion is doomed, there is abundant evidence of an ongoing worldwide religious awakening,” Stark concludes. If anything, religion has been making a comeback. Stark – who serves as co-director of the Institute for Studies of Religion and a distinguished professor at Baylor University – demonstrates that faith remains an essential component of daily life around the world, even in the supposedly post-religious West. “The Triumph of Faith” by Rodney Stark (Source: ISI Books) By comprehensively examining the latest statistics, he debunks reports of widespread secularization as proclaimed by trendy irreligious voices within intelligentsia and media.

Rodney Stark makes a persuasive case for this thesis in his recent book The Triumph of Faith. 272 pages.ĭefying popular perception, religious faith remains the norm for the vast majority of the world’s population. The Triumph of Faith: Why the World Is More Religious Than Ever, by Rodney Stark.

The Triumph of Christianity by Rodney Stark