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World religions statistics place the [[Bahá'í Faith]] around 0.1% of the world population in recent years.<ref>{{cite web| title =FIELD LISTING :: RELIGIONS | work =World Factbook | publisher =CIA= | year = 2013 | url =https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html | accessdate = Sept 9, 2013}}</ref><ref name="WCE2001">{{cite book|last=Barrett|first=David A.|title=World Christian Encyclopedia|url=http://www.bible.ca/global-religion-statistics-world-christian-encyclopedia.htm|year=2001|page=4}}</ref> The [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] estimated only 7.1 million Bahá'ís in the world in 2000, representing 218 countries<ref name="WCE2001"/> and its evolution to the ''World Christian Database''(WCD) estimated 7.3 million in 2010<ref>{{cite web| title = Most Baha'i Nations (2010) | work = QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions | publisher = The Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2010| url =http://www.thearda.com/QL2010/QuickList_40.asp | accessdate = 2013-8-20}}</ref> while accredited through the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]](ARDA). However the WCD stated: "The Baha'i Faith is the only religion to have grown faster in every United Nations region over the past 100 years than the general population; Baha’i(sic) was thus the fastest-growing religion between 1910 and 2010, growing at least twice as fast as the population of almost every UN region."<ref>{{cite book| last =Johnson | first =Todd M. | coauthors =Brian J. Grim | title =The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography |chapter =Global Religious Populations, 1910–2010 |chapterurl =http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118555767.ch1| publisher =John Wiley & Sons| date =26 March 2013| pages =59-62| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=CkFVF8nFiqkC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q&f=false|doi =10.1002/9781118555767.ch1| isbn = 9781118555767}}</ref> This source's only documented flaw was to consistently have a higher estimate of Christians than in other cross-national data sets.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Hsu|first=Becky |coauthors=Amy Reynolds; Conrad Hackett; James Gibbon|year=2008 |title=Estimating the Religious Composition of All Nations: An Empirical Assessment of the World Christian Database|journal=[[Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion]]|volume=47|issue=4|pages=691–692|url=http://www.conradhackett.com/uploads/2/6/7/2/2672974/evaluating_world_christian_database.pdf|accessdate=2012-01-27}}</ref> |
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From its origins in the [[Persian Empire|Persian]] and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Empires of the 19th century the Bahá'í Faith was able to gain converts elsewhere in Asia, Europe, and North America by the early 20th century. [[John Esslemont]] performed the first review of the worldwide progress of the religion in 1919.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Moomen |first = Moojan | editor-last = Smith | editor-first = Peter | title = Bahá'ís in the West | publisher = Kalimat Press | year = 2004 | location = | pages = 63–106; Esslemont's Survey of the Baha'i World 1919–1920 | url = http://books.google.com/?id=x7wyJdyE60oC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq= |doi = | id = | isbn = 1-890688-11-8}}</ref> [[`Abdu'l-Bahá]] then set goals for the community through his [[Tablets of the Divine Plan]] shortly before his death. [[Shoghi Effendi]] then initiated systematic [[Pioneering (Bahá'í)|pioneering]] efforts which brought the religion to almost every country and territory of the world and converts from more than 2000 tribes and peoples. There were serious setbacks in the [[Soviet Union]]<ref name="momen">{{cite conference | last = Momen | first = Moojan | title = Turkmenistan | booktitle = draft of "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith" | publisher = Bahá'í Library Online |year = 1994 |url =http://www.northill.demon.co.uk/relstud/turkmnst.htm |accessdate = 2008-05-21}}</ref><ref name="hass">[http://bahai-studies.ca/journal/files/jbs/5.3%20Hassall.pdf "Notes on the Bábí and Bahá'í Religions in Russia and its Territories"], by Graham Hassall, Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 5.3 (Sept.-Dec. 1993)</ref> where Bahá'í communities in 38 cities across Soviet territories ceased to exist. However plans continued building to 1953 when the Bahá'ís initiated a [[Ten Year Crusade]] after plans had focused on Latin America and Europe after WWII. That last stage was largely towards parts of Africa.<ref name="hassal-egypt">{{cite web | last = Hassall | first = Graham | title = Egypt: Baha'i history | work = Asia Pacific Bahá'í Studies: Bahá'í Communities by country | publisher = Bahá'í Online Library | date = c. 2000| url = http://bahai-library.com/hassall_bahai_communities_country| accessdate = 2009-05-24}}</ref><ref name="basic">{{cite book|author=Cameron, G.|coauthors=& Momen, W.|year= 1996|title= A Basic Bahá'í Chronology|publisher= George Ronald|location=Oxford, UK|isbn= 0-85398-404-2 }}</ref> Wide-scale growth in the religion across [[Sub-Sahara]]n Africa particularly was observed to begin in 1950s and extend in the 1960s.<ref name="UofC">{{cite web | title = Overview Of World Religions | work = General Essay on the Religions of Sub-Saharan Africa | publisher = Division of Religion and Philosophy, [[University of Cumbria]] | url = http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/sub/geness.html | accessdate = 2008-04-16 }}</ref> There was diplomatic pressure from northern arab countries against this development that was eventually overcome.<ref name="survey">{{Cite journal | last = Smith | first = Peter | authorlink = Peter Smith (Bahá'í) | last2 = Momen | first2 = Moojan | author2-link = Moojan Momen | title = The Baha'i Faith 1957-1988: A Survey of Contemporary Developments | journal = Religion | volume = 19 | issue = 01 | pages = 63–91 | year = 1989 | url = http://bahai-library.com/momen_smith_developments_1957-1988 | doi = 10.1016/0048-721X(89)90077-8 | postscript = <!--None--> }}</ref> Starting in the 1980s with [[Perestroyka]] the Bahá'ís began to re-organize across the Soviet Union and [[Eastern Bloc]]. While sometimes failing to meet official minimums for recognitions as a religion, communities of Bahá'ís do exist from [[Bahá'í Faith in Poland|Poland]] to [[Bahá'í Faith in Mongolia|Mongolia]]. The [[Bahá'í Faith by continent|worldwide]] progress was such that the [[Encyclopedia Britannica]] (2002) identified the religion as the second-most geographically widespread religion after Christianity.<ref name="britannica_stats">{{cite book |chapter=Worldwide Adherents of All Religions by Six Continental Areas, Mid-2002 |title = Encyclopædia Britannica |author= Encyclopædia Britannica | publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica |year = 2002}}</ref> It has established [[Bahá'í House of Worship|Bahá'í Houses of Worship]] by continental region and been the object of interest and support of diverse non-Bahá'í notable people from [[Leo Tolstoy]]<ref>{{cite journal| last = Collins | first =William P. | coauthors =Jasion T. Jan | title =Lev Tolstoy and the Báb’i and Bahá'i Religions: A Bibliography | journal = The Journal of Bahá'i Studies | volume =3 | issue =3 | pages =1–10 | year =1991 | url =http://bahai-library.com/collins_jasion_lev_tolstoy| accessdate = Sept 9, 2013}}</ref> to [[Khalil Gibran]]<ref name="Bushrui 55">{{cite book|title=Kahlil Gibran, Man and Poet: a New Biography|year=1998|publisher=Oneworld Publications|author=Bushrui, Suheil B.|coauthors=Jenkins, Joe|page=55|isbn=978-1851682676|url=http://bahai-library.com/bushrui_gibran_man_poet}}</ref> to [[Mohandas K. Gandhi]]<ref>[http://bahai-library.com/gandhimohan_gandhi_bahais_nonviolence#10 Mahatma Gandhi and the Bahá'ís] - Striving towards a Nonviolent Civilization, by M. V. Gandhimohan, Copyright © 2000, Bahá'í Publishing Trust of India, New Delhi, ISBN 81-86953-82-5</ref> to [[Desmond Tutu]].<ref name="Nobel">{{cite web |title = Iran's War Against Knowledge – An Open Letter to the International Academic Community |publisher = Huffington Post | url =http://www.huffingtonpost.com/desmond-tutu/iran-bahai-_b_978090.html | accessdate = March 12, 2012 | date = September 26, 2011 | first = Desmond |last = Tutu | authorlink =Desmond Tutu| first2 = José | last2 = Ramos-Horta|authorlink2 = José Ramos-Horta}}</ref> |
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ARDA/WCD statistics place the Bahá'í Faith as currently the largest religious minority in Iran<ref name="fdih1">{{cite web | date = August 1, 2003 | title = Discrimination against religious minorities in Iran | author = International Federation for Human Rights | publisher = fdih.org | accessdate =October 20, 2006|url =http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/ir0108a.pdf|format=PDF|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061031221624/http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/ir0108a.pdf| archivedate= October 31, 2006 <!--DASHBot-->|deadurl= no}}</ref> (despite significant [[Persecution of Bahá'ís|persecution]] and the overall [[Iranian diaspora]]), Panama,<ref>{{cite web | title = Panama | work =National Profiles > > Regions > Central America >| publisher =Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2010 | url =http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_174_2.asp|accessdate = 2012-09-21}}</ref> and Belize;<ref>{{cite web | title = Belize |work =National Profiles > > Regions > Central America >| publisher =Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2010 | url =http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_23_2.asp|accessdate = 2012-09-21}}</ref> the second largest international religion in Bolivia,<ref>{{cite web | title = Bolivia |work =National Profiles > > Regions > Central America >|publisher =Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2010 | url =http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_27_2.asp| accessdate = 2012-09-21}}</ref> Zambia,<ref>{{cite web|title = Zambia |work =National Profiles > > Regions > Eastern Africa >| publisher =Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2010 | url =http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_245_2.asp|accessdate = 2012-09-21}}</ref> and Papua New Guinea;<ref>{{cite web | title = Papua New Guinea |work = National Profiles > > Regions > Melanesia > | publisher =Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2010 |url =http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_175_2.asp | accessdate = 2012-10-21}}</ref> and the third largest international religion in Chad<ref name="WCE-05">{{cite web | title = Most Baha'i Nations (2005) | work = QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions > | publisher = The Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2005|url =http://www.thearda.com/QuickLists/QuickList_40c.asp | accessdate = 2009-07-04}}</ref> and Kenya.<ref>{{cite web | title = Kenya|work = National Profiles > > Regions > Eastern Africa >| publisher =Association of Religion Data Archives | year = 2010 |url =http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_121_2.asp|accessdate = 2012-09-21}}</ref> |
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A Bahá'í published survey reported 4.74 million Bahá'ís in 1987.<ref>{{cite news | last = Dr. Rabbani|first = Ahang | coauthors = Department of Statistics at the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, Israel | title = Achievements of the Seven Year Plan | newspaper = Bahá'í News | location = Bahá'í World Center, Haifa | publisher = Bahá'í International Community|date = July 1987| url = http://bahai-news.info/viewer.erb?vol=12&page=97 | pages = 2–7|accessdate =October 4, 2009}}</ref> Bahá'í sources since 1991 usually estimate the worldwide Bahá'í population to be "above 5 million".<ref name="whoare">{{Cite news | last = International Community | first = Bahá'í | author-link = Bahá'í International Community | title = How many Bahá'ís are there? |magazine = The Bahá'ís | page = 14 | year = 1992 | url = http://www.bahai.com/thebahais/pg14.htm | ref = harv | postscript = <!--None--> }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics |author=Bahá'í International Community |authorlink=Bahá'í International Community|publisher = Bahá'í International Community |year = 2010 |accessdate =March 5, 2010 |url= http://news.bahai.org/media-information/statistics/}}</ref></blockquote> |
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: Gone live… --[[User:Smkolins|Smkolins]] ([[User talk:Smkolins|talk]]) 15:38, 9 September 2013 (UTC) |
: Gone live… --[[User:Smkolins|Smkolins]] ([[User talk:Smkolins|talk]]) 15:38, 9 September 2013 (UTC) |
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Table
Editor 87.14.80.83 (talk · contribs) has voiced concerns that this article's table of religious demographics is "totally unreliable" because "there's not even a clear membership of religions such as Taoism or Spiritualism, and Confucianism has no membership since it's not a religion." These are serious allegations that I want to address. The table is reproduced from a report published by the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS), which used demographic statistics from the World Christian Database (WCD) and the World Religion Database (WRD). Both the WCD and the WRD are published by Brill. There should be no concerns that the GCTS is "cooking the books," because essentially the same information appears in other publications. I don't know what methodology the WRD uses to estimate the number of Taoists and Spiritualists, but as a scholarly, published database, the WRD fulfills Wikipedia's criteria for a reliable source. Reviews of the WCD and the WRD note some weaknesses, but nothing of the sort that would preclude their use as reliable sources. As for the status of Confucianism as a religion, it has traditionally been regarded as a religion by Western scholars, and continues to be treated as one in studies of religious demographics. I don't think this contentious issue is grounds for removing the table. --50.46.245.232 (talk) 04:22, 15 August 2013 (UTC)
- The table seems to be really misleading, because it says 1.8 billion for Muslim population and 2.5 billion for christianity, while according to many estimates it's suggested that buddhist population is above 1 billion. Such stats are going to be contradiction. So better to just don't add them. Bladesmulti (talk) 05:35, 3 September 2013 (UTC)
- And other sources estimate the Buddhist population at below 500 million, and sometimes significantly below. Those who claim the population is above 1 billion include not only practicing Buddhists but other traditions influenced by Buddhism as well. Most of these "Buddhists" practice multiple religions and may self-identify as "Shintoists", "Chinese folk religionists", etc. The estimate provided in the table is reasonable because it's in line with other estimates, which tend to cluster around the 350–550 million figure. The table is necessary because it is the only information in the article that addresses religious (as opposed to denominational) growth; in other words, the table is the only way we would know that Christianity experiences (and is projected to experience for the next decade) the fastest absolute growth and either Bahai or Islam the fastest average annual growth. Nothing else in the article tells us this and virtually none of the other sources currently used are deemed as reliable according to Wikipedia's own standards, which favor published peer-reviewed academic sources.--66.91.215.247 (talk) 19:56, 3 September 2013 (UTC)
- Reasonable to you because it probably favors any of the religion which has shown off it's stats in large amount. I don't want to get into the depth of it, because the stats are unclear to the actual point of view, nor it can be decided that what is going to remain after 30 years, considering that it's not economy, but it's religious faith. Bladesmulti (talk) 05:48, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- A figure of 350–550 million Buddhists is reasonable because that is what the majority of scholars who study religious demographics have agreed is reasonable. I have yet to find a single peer-reviewed published study/database claim there are 1 billion+ Buddhists. Ideally, the article would explain that syncretism makes it difficult to estimate the Buddhist population, that estimates range from 350 million to 1.2 billion, and that most estimates cluster around 350–550 million. There is no reason to throw out the baby with the bath water; the table contains a lot of information very important to this article. A footnote is all that is needed to remind readers that the Buddhist population may be significantly higher, although most scholars believe it is not. --66.91.215.247 (talk) 09:24, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- How scholars can be the reliable source? Is it islamic scholar who actually made this list? Because much of the times, Islamic converts are counted, but not those who have left the religion. Bladesmulti (talk) 15:29, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- Please try to make your responses more comprehensible to other editors. I don't understand what you're saying in your response above, and I don't know how to respond. I would suggest you read Wikipedia's guideline on reliability if you have not read it before, and reread it if you've read it already. The guideline says "Articles should be based on reliable, third-party, published sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy." The World Christian Database and the World Religion Database are published by Brill, a well-known academic publisher. Further, "Reliable sources may be published materials with a reliable publication process, authors who are regarded as authoritative in relation to the subject, or both." The databases are edited by either/both Todd M. Johnson and Brian J. Grim, two recognized experts in the field of religious demographics who wrote the 2013 introductory text The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography. This book is published by Wiley-Blackwell, a well-known academic publisher. Here is an excerpt from the book; you can see Buddhist demographics in Table 1.29. Note that all of the information in our table is reproduced in this book, which can substitute the report we've cited. The World Factbook says that Buddhists represent 6.77% of the world population, or about 481 million people out of a world population of 7.1 billion (see under People and Society > Religions). The Pew Research Center says "There are about 488 million Buddhists worldwide, representing 7% of the world’s total population as of 2010." The book An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013) says there are "around 535 million Buddhists in the world—7.8 per cent of the total 2010 world population," and that "there are at least another 200 million who relate to Buddhism to a fair extent." Even assuming the other 200 million were counted as Buddhists, that is still about 300 million Buddhists short of a billion. Literally the only source I have seen for a figure of 1 billion+ Buddhists is David N. Snyder of the Vipassana Foundation; you can find his estimates at his Web site and his self-published book, which should be avoided according to Wikipedia guidelines. --66.91.215.247 (talk) 20:22, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- I don't really want to get started, no wonder how much you copy paste your own comments more and more. The point is that this table is based on very false stats, it says that Buddhism population is lower than 400 million? Yet there are so many estimates that population of buddhists is much higher, even hindu population is just 948 million according to this table. While almost each source regard hindu's population to be above 1 billion. Obviously, every other figure has to be wrong this way. Bladesmulti (talk) 07:32, 7 September 2013 (UTC)
- In the spirit of good faith I have been forced to make my posts longer against my wishes, because you do not seem to understand that citations trump personal feelings on Wikipedia. Every single time. I understand that you believe the figures I have quoted are too low, that they are "very false stats"—you have made your personal beliefs abundantly clear. What you have not done is provide a single peer-reviewed reference to support your position. Not a single one. So let me try to make this clear: your personal opinion about Buddhist demographics does not matter; neither does mine. Original research is prohibited on Wikipedia. What matters is verifiability. I have provided many references supporting the position that most scholars agree upon a figure of 350–550 million. You have not provided a single reference disputing this and have repeatedly removed referenced content. When there's controversy (as is bound to happen with religious topics), we do not remove information from Wikipedia if the information comes from a reliable source; instead, we give each side its due weight. With these recent edits, due weight has been restored. If you continue removing referenced content I will request mediation. --50.46.245.232 (talk) 11:01, 7 September 2013 (UTC)
- And such table is allowed? That's what the point is. Just because you seem to be liking the table doesn't means you should insert it here, main reason is, that it actually shows the false figures about the population of almost every single religion. Bladesmulti (talk) 12:07, 7 September 2013 (UTC)
- As I have already explained over and over again, the WRD is a very good reference because it is regarded as one of the most authoritative sources of religious demographic data available. Here's why: (1) the WRD is a peer-reviewed secondary source of religious demographic data, meaning other experts have reviewed the information in the database and found it to be reliable, (2) it is published by Brill, one of the most well-known and trusted academic publishers in the world, (3) it is edited by Todd M. Johnson and Brian J. Grim, two recognized experts in their field, (4) the WRD project is based at Boston University, an accredited research university, and (5) the WRD is a scholarly database and the most comprehensive of its kind, meaning it was created by scholars for scholars. The WRD meets all of the criteria used by Wikipedia to determine reliability (unlike many of the sources currently used in the article), and thus should be regarded by other editors as one of the best references we have. Wikipedia encourages use of references that meet Wikipedia's criteria for reliability (which the WRD does). Here are some more things to consider: (1) one of the WRD's largest sources of information is the Pew Research Center. The WRD gathers statistics from Pew and others, collates, cross-references, and analyzes the information, and reconciles conflicts. (2) One of the editors of the WRD is Brian J. Grim, a senior researcher at Pew, so we have no reason to suspect the WRD of misusing Pew data. If you have anymore questions, please read Wikipedia:No original research, Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources, Wikipedia:Verifiability, and Wikipedia:Identifying and using primary and secondary sources. I apologize for sounding irritated, but I am beginning to run out of patience and do not have the time nor energy to explain the same things over and over again. --50.46.245.232 (talk) 21:30, 7 September 2013 (UTC)
- Not about the sources at all. Because a lot of sources suggests that 9/11 was inside job, but doesn't means we can officially add it? These numbers of the tables are not reliable at all. Knowing that Taoism's population is over 20 million, Sikh population is over 28 million, Hindu population is 1 billion+.. By 2010. Such table is indeed misleading. If the stats are extremely low compared to actual official stats, it's obviously irrelevant. Bladesmulti (talk) 05:12, 8 September 2013 (UTC)
- Come back when you can produce those "actual official stats" you've been looking at, and then we can talk.--50.46.245.232 (talk) 09:21, 8 September 2013 (UTC)
- Sikhism by country, Hinduism by country, Buddhism by country, Zoroastrianism by country, the confirmed stats differ from the table that you have posted here. Bladesmulti (talk) 16:42, 8 September 2013 (UTC)
- It's clear you haven't read the Wikipedia guideline about reliable sources, which prohibits using other Wikipedia articles as sources, even after I have made the link available to you time and time again. Although I'm amused Wikipedia is considered "actual official stats" by some, I'm not convinced I should trust a conglomeration of disparate sources whose reliability may be questionable and demographic tables that have not been been cross-referenced, peer-reviewed or systematically analyzed for redundancies and conflicts, over a single scholarly database which provides the same international religious statistics. Because you appear to have no interest in participating according to Wikipedia policy despite my best efforts to promote better editing practices on your part, I have no interest carrying this discussion any further. If you still believe I'm wrong to include the table, please request a third opinion or comment; you can find instructions here and here. --50.46.245.232 (talk) 21:19, 8 September 2013 (UTC)
- Sikhism by country, Hinduism by country, Buddhism by country, Zoroastrianism by country, the confirmed stats differ from the table that you have posted here. Bladesmulti (talk) 16:42, 8 September 2013 (UTC)
- Come back when you can produce those "actual official stats" you've been looking at, and then we can talk.--50.46.245.232 (talk) 09:21, 8 September 2013 (UTC)
- Not about the sources at all. Because a lot of sources suggests that 9/11 was inside job, but doesn't means we can officially add it? These numbers of the tables are not reliable at all. Knowing that Taoism's population is over 20 million, Sikh population is over 28 million, Hindu population is 1 billion+.. By 2010. Such table is indeed misleading. If the stats are extremely low compared to actual official stats, it's obviously irrelevant. Bladesmulti (talk) 05:12, 8 September 2013 (UTC)
- As I have already explained over and over again, the WRD is a very good reference because it is regarded as one of the most authoritative sources of religious demographic data available. Here's why: (1) the WRD is a peer-reviewed secondary source of religious demographic data, meaning other experts have reviewed the information in the database and found it to be reliable, (2) it is published by Brill, one of the most well-known and trusted academic publishers in the world, (3) it is edited by Todd M. Johnson and Brian J. Grim, two recognized experts in their field, (4) the WRD project is based at Boston University, an accredited research university, and (5) the WRD is a scholarly database and the most comprehensive of its kind, meaning it was created by scholars for scholars. The WRD meets all of the criteria used by Wikipedia to determine reliability (unlike many of the sources currently used in the article), and thus should be regarded by other editors as one of the best references we have. Wikipedia encourages use of references that meet Wikipedia's criteria for reliability (which the WRD does). Here are some more things to consider: (1) one of the WRD's largest sources of information is the Pew Research Center. The WRD gathers statistics from Pew and others, collates, cross-references, and analyzes the information, and reconciles conflicts. (2) One of the editors of the WRD is Brian J. Grim, a senior researcher at Pew, so we have no reason to suspect the WRD of misusing Pew data. If you have anymore questions, please read Wikipedia:No original research, Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources, Wikipedia:Verifiability, and Wikipedia:Identifying and using primary and secondary sources. I apologize for sounding irritated, but I am beginning to run out of patience and do not have the time nor energy to explain the same things over and over again. --50.46.245.232 (talk) 21:30, 7 September 2013 (UTC)
- And such table is allowed? That's what the point is. Just because you seem to be liking the table doesn't means you should insert it here, main reason is, that it actually shows the false figures about the population of almost every single religion. Bladesmulti (talk) 12:07, 7 September 2013 (UTC)
- In the spirit of good faith I have been forced to make my posts longer against my wishes, because you do not seem to understand that citations trump personal feelings on Wikipedia. Every single time. I understand that you believe the figures I have quoted are too low, that they are "very false stats"—you have made your personal beliefs abundantly clear. What you have not done is provide a single peer-reviewed reference to support your position. Not a single one. So let me try to make this clear: your personal opinion about Buddhist demographics does not matter; neither does mine. Original research is prohibited on Wikipedia. What matters is verifiability. I have provided many references supporting the position that most scholars agree upon a figure of 350–550 million. You have not provided a single reference disputing this and have repeatedly removed referenced content. When there's controversy (as is bound to happen with religious topics), we do not remove information from Wikipedia if the information comes from a reliable source; instead, we give each side its due weight. With these recent edits, due weight has been restored. If you continue removing referenced content I will request mediation. --50.46.245.232 (talk) 11:01, 7 September 2013 (UTC)
- I don't really want to get started, no wonder how much you copy paste your own comments more and more. The point is that this table is based on very false stats, it says that Buddhism population is lower than 400 million? Yet there are so many estimates that population of buddhists is much higher, even hindu population is just 948 million according to this table. While almost each source regard hindu's population to be above 1 billion. Obviously, every other figure has to be wrong this way. Bladesmulti (talk) 07:32, 7 September 2013 (UTC)
- Please try to make your responses more comprehensible to other editors. I don't understand what you're saying in your response above, and I don't know how to respond. I would suggest you read Wikipedia's guideline on reliability if you have not read it before, and reread it if you've read it already. The guideline says "Articles should be based on reliable, third-party, published sources with a reputation for fact-checking and accuracy." The World Christian Database and the World Religion Database are published by Brill, a well-known academic publisher. Further, "Reliable sources may be published materials with a reliable publication process, authors who are regarded as authoritative in relation to the subject, or both." The databases are edited by either/both Todd M. Johnson and Brian J. Grim, two recognized experts in the field of religious demographics who wrote the 2013 introductory text The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography. This book is published by Wiley-Blackwell, a well-known academic publisher. Here is an excerpt from the book; you can see Buddhist demographics in Table 1.29. Note that all of the information in our table is reproduced in this book, which can substitute the report we've cited. The World Factbook says that Buddhists represent 6.77% of the world population, or about 481 million people out of a world population of 7.1 billion (see under People and Society > Religions). The Pew Research Center says "There are about 488 million Buddhists worldwide, representing 7% of the world’s total population as of 2010." The book An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013) says there are "around 535 million Buddhists in the world—7.8 per cent of the total 2010 world population," and that "there are at least another 200 million who relate to Buddhism to a fair extent." Even assuming the other 200 million were counted as Buddhists, that is still about 300 million Buddhists short of a billion. Literally the only source I have seen for a figure of 1 billion+ Buddhists is David N. Snyder of the Vipassana Foundation; you can find his estimates at his Web site and his self-published book, which should be avoided according to Wikipedia guidelines. --66.91.215.247 (talk) 20:22, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- How scholars can be the reliable source? Is it islamic scholar who actually made this list? Because much of the times, Islamic converts are counted, but not those who have left the religion. Bladesmulti (talk) 15:29, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- A figure of 350–550 million Buddhists is reasonable because that is what the majority of scholars who study religious demographics have agreed is reasonable. I have yet to find a single peer-reviewed published study/database claim there are 1 billion+ Buddhists. Ideally, the article would explain that syncretism makes it difficult to estimate the Buddhist population, that estimates range from 350 million to 1.2 billion, and that most estimates cluster around 350–550 million. There is no reason to throw out the baby with the bath water; the table contains a lot of information very important to this article. A footnote is all that is needed to remind readers that the Buddhist population may be significantly higher, although most scholars believe it is not. --66.91.215.247 (talk) 09:24, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- Reasonable to you because it probably favors any of the religion which has shown off it's stats in large amount. I don't want to get into the depth of it, because the stats are unclear to the actual point of view, nor it can be decided that what is going to remain after 30 years, considering that it's not economy, but it's religious faith. Bladesmulti (talk) 05:48, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- And other sources estimate the Buddhist population at below 500 million, and sometimes significantly below. Those who claim the population is above 1 billion include not only practicing Buddhists but other traditions influenced by Buddhism as well. Most of these "Buddhists" practice multiple religions and may self-identify as "Shintoists", "Chinese folk religionists", etc. The estimate provided in the table is reasonable because it's in line with other estimates, which tend to cluster around the 350–550 million figure. The table is necessary because it is the only information in the article that addresses religious (as opposed to denominational) growth; in other words, the table is the only way we would know that Christianity experiences (and is projected to experience for the next decade) the fastest absolute growth and either Bahai or Islam the fastest average annual growth. Nothing else in the article tells us this and virtually none of the other sources currently used are deemed as reliable according to Wikipedia's own standards, which favor published peer-reviewed academic sources.--66.91.215.247 (talk) 19:56, 3 September 2013 (UTC)
I just figured I'd chime in here (I watchlist this article but mostly just revert unsourced additions and vandalism)--50.46.245.232 is completely correct here. Bladesmulti, if you would like to produce sources that meet WP:RS that provide different figures, then we can consider including them. Note that the sources should be at least as reliable as the one currently used--i.e., peer reviewed academic journals. Qwyrxian (talk) 22:22, 8 September 2013 (UTC)
Recent Edits of the Islam Section
The following has been removed or edited for the following reasons described below:
- Unreliable Sources Removed:
- Claim:"At first "dhimmi" (non-Muslims) were given the choice to convert to Islam or pay a heavy tax and be subject to other limitations."
- The Religion of Peace - Guide to Understanding Islam: Forced Conversion
- Not a scholarly source.
- Ye'or, Bat. "The Dhimmi: Jews and Christians Under Islam", Associated University Presses, 1985, p. 52-54.
- Well known conspiracy theorist.
- Short, Walter. “The Jizyah Tax: Equality And Dignity Under Islamic Law?” accessed May 7, 2011.
- Not scholarly.
- Source Misrepresentation:
- Claim: [linking to previous idea of Jizya tax] "But over time, pressure to convert increased."
- Barrett, David B. and Todd M. Johnson, “World Christian Trends AD 30-AD 2200,” William Carey Library, 2001, p. 230, table 4-10.
- Makes no mention of Jizyah tax or increased conversion due to pressure. Google Books Link
- Jenkins, Philip. “The Lost History of Christianity.” Harper Collins, New York, 2008, p. 118-119
- Makes no mention of Jizyah tax or increased conversion due to pressure. On the contrary he claims it was evangelisation that lead to an increase in conversion, amongst a whole host of other reasons. Google Books Link
I've added scholarly opinion on the subject instead, though if other sources turn up then please add them. NarSakSasLee (talk) 16:40, 21 August 2013 (UTC)
- I concur that http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/ and Bat Ye'or are both unreliable source. Visite fortuitement prolongée (talk) 20:03, 21 August 2013 (UTC)
- The following has been removed because as the sources themselves say, it's rarely ever applied, and so it's not relevant to the religions growth or retainment:
- Claim: "The majority of Muslim scholars hold to the traditional view that apostasy is punishable by death or imprisonment until repentance, at least for adult men of sound mind."
- Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im, Toward an Islamic Reformation: Civil Liberties, Human Rights, and International Law, Syracuse University Press, 1996, p. 183 [1]
- Kecia Ali and Oliver Leaman, Islam: the key concepts, Routledge, 2008, p. 10 [2]
- John L. Esposito, The Oxford dictionary of Islam, Oxford University Press, 2004 p. 22 [3]
- In my opinion the section is getting increasingly absurd. This is about the growth of religion, not the history of the growth of Islam. Perhaps it all belongs in another article (the first paragraph I mean to say). Thoughts? NarSakSasLee (talk) 06:15, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
- NarSakSasLee, i am not curious though, but still, why death for apostasy is not mentioned in the Islam's section? In fact in countries like Algeria you can't even talk about any religion, except Islam. Bladesmulti (talk) 15:34, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
That can be answered easily, if what you say is true about Algeria, then that has strictly to do with crticism, not apostasy but blasphemy laws (I don't know if they even do have those or because it's in their culture not to insult the religion). Further the law, from what John L. Esposito says, seems largely symbolic since it's not implemented that often (his exact words; "rarely"). So because the law isn't taken seriously, nor applied seriously in the majority of Islamic countries, it therefore is obsolete and will have nothing to do with growth, stagnation, or decline. The law doesn't seem to be influential. The Abrahamic faiths do rant on about apostates going to hell but that hasn't stopped people from changing religions and neither has this law. This being said however, if you can find a source linking the apostasy laws and growth and decline of the faith then we'll add it with no problems but it has to be scholarly since there's been quite a lot of edit warring in the past few weeks. It's problems like this is why I proposed deleting the entire paragraph and moving it (because there's too much to deal with here), preferably to the population growth article, since history is being dealt with. Otherwise the section will get too big and too out of touch with the topic (which is about growth not history of growth). Also this needs to be added: linking apostasy with growth/decline of the faith would be original research without a scholarly source. Something which is not allowed to happen on this Wiki (see WP:OR). NarSakSasLee (talk) 23:44, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
Copyright violation
I deleted several sentences for Copyright violation. However, the sentence about Guinness Book seem to be a Copyright violation of http://religiousaccuracy.blogspot.in/2012/06/fastest-growing-religion-on-earth.html . Visite fortuitement prolongée (talk) 20:03, 21 August 2013 (UTC)
- The Guinness World Records quote on that blog is from an old Wiki version. It doesn't count as copyrighted material. NarSakSasLee (talk) 20:32, 21 August 2013 (UTC)
POV in the Islam section
There's a POV-tag on the Islam section, which there should be since there has been a lot of edit warring and adding IMHO very biased material. I can't see any discussion here on the talk page about the problems having been rectified and everyone being happy, which there should be before removing the tag. So are the problems solved or not?
- I can't see any conflict. The section looks well balanced and represents scholarly views. I've tried my best to add relevant and reliable material over the last couple of hours as I did notice some problems. There doesn't seem to be any problems now. If there are then no one has discussed them on here, except me (see above). NarSakSasLee (talk) 21:46, 21 August 2013 (UTC)
- The template seems to have been added by one author for dubious reasons. It warrants removal. NarSakSasLee (talk) 22:39, 21 August 2013 (UTC)
Atheism Section & non-Secular Sources
Hello everyone. After just a quick glance there is obviously no way for the annual average growth rate of atheism between 1970 and 2020 to be negative 0.38. After my own calculations it should be ~2,18. But that begs the question if the source is incorrect or if the one who read it is incorrect (by its very own figures). Other growths seem to be weird to.
I would also like to suggest that we used the statistics between 1970 and 2010. Not the supposed growth for an other 10 years we haven't experienced yet. (Well 7 now). — Precedingunsigned comment added by 37.123.149.65 (talk) 13:28, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
- Agreed. BTW normally new posts go to the bottom. bots age things out and putting things at the top breaks their process. I'll move it. --Smkolins (talk) 14:27, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
- I concur. I would expect atheism to increase in numbers by that year not remain static. Could you quickly jot down how you did the calculation for others who may wish to revert it out of good faith, for future reference? Also I think the table should be removed. NarSakSasLee (talk) 15:14, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
- According to the source, the number of atheists in 1970 was 165,506,000, not 65,506,000! With the extra digit, the math checks out. As for future projections, I think they're important to have. "Growing" implies future continuous growth. If we only include information up to 2010, this article would be discussing historical growth, not current or projected growth.--50.46.245.232 (talk) 16:31, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
- I concur. I would expect atheism to increase in numbers by that year not remain static. Could you quickly jot down how you did the calculation for others who may wish to revert it out of good faith, for future reference? Also I think the table should be removed. NarSakSasLee (talk) 15:14, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
I generally don't like trusting sources such as this because it doesn't seem secular. Can a secular source confirm atheism declining? NarSakSasLee (talk) 23:48, 22 August 2013 (UTC)
- Better yet, a source subject to editorial standards or peer-review. The source is not reliable, it should be removed. Unfortunately, that means losing the table. The source is only used in one other place in the article. TippyGoomba (talk) 00:35, 23 August 2013 (UTC)
Removing it now. NarSakSasLee (talk) 01:05, 23 August 2013 (UTC)
- How about http://www.iirf.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Journal/IJRF_Vol5-1.pdf, page=20 which I note is "The IJRF is published twice a year and aims to provide a platform for scholarly discourse on religious free- dom in general and the persecution of Christians in particular. It is an interdisciplinary, international, peer reviewed journal…" - here is the proposed citation syntax: Grim, Brian J (2012). "Rising restrictions on religion" (PDF). International Journal of Religious Freedom. 5 (1): 17–33. ISSN 2070-5484. And note a closely related data set was examined - see World Christian Encyclopedia, "One study found that the WCD's data was "highly correlated with other sources that offer cross-national religious composition estimates" but the database "consistently gives a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets"." --Smkolins (talk) 02:34, 23 August 2013 (UTC)
- That looks like a much better source. TippyGoomba (talk) 03:38, 23 August 2013 (UTC)
- I'll add that ARDA uses them as a the main source on rates of adherents for their analysis - http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/datasource.asp (near the bottom but you see each source for each type of info and WCE is the only one for "rates of adherence".) On the other hand I don't know any "correction" that any one has applied for the finding that it consistently ranked Christianity higher than other sources - anyone have access to some of those other sources that we can use? --Smkolins (talk) 10:10, 23 August 2013 (UTC)
- I have access to JSTOR, Questia and HighBeam Research. I'll be taking a look over the next few days for some reliable info. NarSakSasLee (talk) 10:57, 23 August 2013 (UTC)
- Hiho guys...if only some other things got such good responses so fast... :( Anyway I believe there might be some logic to it all since many people converted to religion in Eastern Europe to fill the spiritual/social vacuum created by the downfall of the socialist system. But at the same time atheism and agnosticism is on the rise (as a percentage of the population) in many western countries, just like an other source mentions in the text itself. I also must agree that a "projected" growth should be added but my idea was that the growth for 1970-2020 would change to 1970 - 2010 while keeping the 2010-2020. I think this makes more sense.
- A demographic problem with the growth in the table from 2010-2020 seems to be that it is based merely on population growth, not on conversion rates. As such the changes in that time period seem minimal to those changes within each decade in the 1970-2010 period. I know that you are looking into new sources for this but please keep in mind what I said for them to. Thanks.
- Where did you see that it excludes conversion? I doubted that it would separate influences at all and only includes populations at two times however they got there. --Smkolins (talk) 00:21, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
- Nowhere beyond the fact that it seems that almost all figures are increasing with what can be expected to be the population growth within those demographic sectors. I'd like to read the source or someone to paste part of the source where it explains why the projected growths are what they claim them to be.37.123.149.65 (talk) 15:41, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
- Where did you see that it excludes conversion? I doubted that it would separate influences at all and only includes populations at two times however they got there. --Smkolins (talk) 00:21, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
- I have access to JSTOR, Questia and HighBeam Research. I'll be taking a look over the next few days for some reliable info. NarSakSasLee (talk) 10:57, 23 August 2013 (UTC)
- Figured out the link for CIA fact book - sizes but not rates - at [4] --Smkolins (talk) 13:02, 24 August 2013 (UTC)
I've reinserted the table. All of the concerns above smell like WP:JUSTDONTLIKEIT. "I generally don't like trusting sources such as this because it doesn't seem secular." Secularism isn't a criterion for determining reliability. Not that it would matter anyway, since both the WCD and the WRD are published by Brill, a secular academic publisher. "Better yet, a source subject to editorial standards or peer-review." The data in this table has been peer-reviewed. See the topic above.--98.150.140.157 (talk) 23:28, 29 August 2013 (UTC)
- Another source to plum - DOI: 10.1002/9781118555767.ch1 Stats from 1910 to 2010. - on google books - [5] still based on WCE. --Smkolins (talk) 15:57, 3 September 2013 (UTC)
- Had the thought of that one study of validity of WCD/WCE and that they named sources of comparison - this might be a short list of where to look for more details - "World Values Survey, Pew Global Assessment Project, CIA World Factbook, and the U.S. Department of State" it said. We have some Pew sources, some WCE, a bit of CIA… anyone got a World Values Survey or a compendium of US Dept of State stats? Looking…. --Smkolins (talk) 02:52, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- Begining to answer - note specific studies report specific results…
- DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5906.2009.01490.x, Religious Conversion in 40 Countries, Authors:Barro, Robert; Hwang, Jason; McCleary, Rachel, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Mar2010, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p15-36.
- A mathematical model of social group competition with application to the growth of religious non-affiliation, Daniel M. Abrams, Haley A. Yaple, Richard J. Wiener, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 088701 (2011), arXiv:1012.1375v2
- The Spiritual Turn and the Decline of Tradition: The Spread of Post-Christian Spirituality in 14 Western Countries, 1981–2000, DICK HOUTMAN, STEF AUPERS, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Volume 46, Issue 3, pages 305–320, September 2007, DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5906.2007.00360.x
…--Smkolins (talk) 04:02, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- World Values Survey data is available here, and the U.S. State Department data is presumably from the annual International Religious Freedom Reports. I don't think the State Department conducts any surveys of their own; rather, they aggregate data and occasionally reference the WCD and, very frequently, the Pew Research Center (which isn't surprising, since Pew is chaired by Madeleine Albright of State Department fame).--66.91.215.247 (talk) 10:41, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- I wanted to add that Todd M. Johnson of Boston University and Brian J. Grim of the Pew Research Center are editors/affiliated with either/both the WCD and the WRD. Johnson is also affiliated with the Center for the Study of Global Christianity and is the primary author of the report cited in this article's table. Here is an insightful excerpt from their book The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013). The book relies on the WCD and WRD for estimates and forecasts, as does the report cited in the table. All of the information in the cited report is also reproduced in the book. I believe the reliability of the table's data according to Wikipedia's own standards has now been established beyond a reasonable doubt.--66.91.215.247 (talk) 11:52, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- I am requesting comment from other editors on the discussion above (under the heading "Table"). Thanks!--66.91.215.247 (talk) 20:24, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- I wanted to add that Todd M. Johnson of Boston University and Brian J. Grim of the Pew Research Center are editors/affiliated with either/both the WCD and the WRD. Johnson is also affiliated with the Center for the Study of Global Christianity and is the primary author of the report cited in this article's table. Here is an insightful excerpt from their book The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013). The book relies on the WCD and WRD for estimates and forecasts, as does the report cited in the table. All of the information in the cited report is also reproduced in the book. I believe the reliability of the table's data according to Wikipedia's own standards has now been established beyond a reasonable doubt.--66.91.215.247 (talk) 11:52, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- World Values Survey data is available here, and the U.S. State Department data is presumably from the annual International Religious Freedom Reports. I don't think the State Department conducts any surveys of their own; rather, they aggregate data and occasionally reference the WCD and, very frequently, the Pew Research Center (which isn't surprising, since Pew is chaired by Madeleine Albright of State Department fame).--66.91.215.247 (talk) 10:41, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
Obviously the fastest growing theological viewpoint is Pandeism, as it has gone from 0 to 60 in 6.2 seconds. DeistCosmos (talk) 20:56, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
- Sources please. Or add it in. NarSakSasLee (talk) 21:01, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
- None, since the big media isn't asking the question, but I do like your style. DeistCosmos (talk) 21:17, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
- Sources please. Or add it in. NarSakSasLee (talk) 21:01, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
- Er...Cheers (I think). We should probably add it. It seems like a valid religion. NarSakSasLee (talk) 22:31, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
- It is a subset of Deism which is already on the page, so anything would go there. Pantheism ought to be as well. But I know of no "official" source for Pandeist followership other than things like Facebook groups and YouTube and Twitter followers and self-declarations. DeistCosmos (talk) 22:45, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
- Interesting, a newly developing religion. Strange, though in this age of science that people still form little enclaves. I suppose it's all to do with belonging. Still pastafarianism takes the cake for me haha. NarSakSasLee (talk) 22:48, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
- Not that new!! DeistCosmos (talk) 22:43, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
- Interesting, a newly developing religion. Strange, though in this age of science that people still form little enclaves. I suppose it's all to do with belonging. Still pastafarianism takes the cake for me haha. NarSakSasLee (talk) 22:48, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
- It is a subset of Deism which is already on the page, so anything would go there. Pantheism ought to be as well. But I know of no "official" source for Pandeist followership other than things like Facebook groups and YouTube and Twitter followers and self-declarations. DeistCosmos (talk) 22:45, 25 August 2013 (UTC)
Are there any sources claiming this is the fastest growing religion? TippyGoomba (talk) 04:42, 5 September 2013 (UTC)
section on the Bahá'í Faith
I'd like to propose this as a draft for inclusion: … --Smkolins (talk) 01:42, 9 September 2013 (UTC)
Extended content
|
---|
|
- Gone live… --Smkolins (talk) 15:38, 9 September 2013 (UTC)
- ^ "FIELD LISTING :: RELIGIONS". World Factbook. CIA=. 2013. Retrieved Sept 9, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ a b Barrett, David A. (2001). World Christian Encyclopedia. p. 4.
- ^ "Most Baha'i Nations (2010)". QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions. The Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. Retrieved 2013-8-20.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ Johnson, Todd M. (26 March 2013). "Global Religious Populations, 1910–2010". The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 59–62. doi:10.1002/9781118555767.ch1. ISBN 9781118555767.
{{cite book}}
: External link in
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|chapterurl=
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suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Hsu, Becky (2008). "Estimating the Religious Composition of All Nations: An Empirical Assessment of the World Christian Database" (PDF). Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. 47 (4): 691–692. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
{{cite journal}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Moomen, Moojan (2004). Smith, Peter (ed.). Bahá'ís in the West. Kalimat Press. pp. 63–106, Esslemont's Survey of the Baha'i World 1919–1920. ISBN 1-890688-11-8.
- ^ Momen, Moojan (1994). "Turkmenistan". draft of "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith". Bahá'í Library Online. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
{{cite conference}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Notes on the Bábí and Bahá'í Religions in Russia and its Territories", by Graham Hassall, Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 5.3 (Sept.-Dec. 1993)
- ^ Hassall, Graham (c. 2000). "Egypt: Baha'i history". Asia Pacific Bahá'í Studies: Bahá'í Communities by country. Bahá'í Online Library. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
- ^ Cameron, G. (1996). A Basic Bahá'í Chronology. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0-85398-404-2.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Overview Of World Religions". General Essay on the Religions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Division of Religion and Philosophy, University of Cumbria. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
- ^ Smith, Peter; Momen, Moojan (1989). "The Baha'i Faith 1957-1988: A Survey of Contemporary Developments". Religion. 19 (01): 63–91. doi:10.1016/0048-721X(89)90077-8.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica (2002). "Worldwide Adherents of All Religions by Six Continental Areas, Mid-2002". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ^ Collins, William P. (1991). "Lev Tolstoy and the Báb'i and Bahá'i Religions: A Bibliography". The Journal of Bahá'i Studies. 3 (3): 1–10. Retrieved Sept 9, 2013.
{{cite journal}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Bushrui, Suheil B. (1998). Kahlil Gibran, Man and Poet: a New Biography. Oneworld Publications. p. 55. ISBN 978-1851682676.
{{cite book}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Mahatma Gandhi and the Bahá'ís - Striving towards a Nonviolent Civilization, by M. V. Gandhimohan, Copyright © 2000, Bahá'í Publishing Trust of India, New Delhi, ISBN 81-86953-82-5
- ^ Tutu, Desmond; Ramos-Horta, José (September 26, 2011). "Iran's War Against Knowledge – An Open Letter to the International Academic Community". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ^ International Federation for Human Rights (August 1, 2003). "Discrimination against religious minorities in Iran" (PDF). fdih.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2006.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Panama". National Profiles > > Regions > Central America >. Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
- ^ "Belize". National Profiles > > Regions > Central America >. Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
- ^ "Bolivia". National Profiles > > Regions > Central America >. Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
- ^ "Zambia". National Profiles > > Regions > Eastern Africa >. Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
- ^ "Papua New Guinea". National Profiles > > Regions > Melanesia >. Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
- ^ "Most Baha'i Nations (2005)". QuickLists > Compare Nations > Religions >. The Association of Religion Data Archives. 2005. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ "Kenya". National Profiles > > Regions > Eastern Africa >. Association of Religion Data Archives. 2010. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
- ^ Dr. Rabbani, Ahang (July 1987). "Achievements of the Seven Year Plan". Bahá'í News. Bahá'í World Center, Haifa: Bahá'í International Community. pp. 2–7. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ International Community, Bahá'í (1992). "How many Bahá'ís are there?". The Bahá'ís. p. 14.
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(help) - ^ Bahá'í International Community (2010). "Statistics". Bahá'í International Community. Retrieved March 5, 2010.