(May 5, 2016 at 6:44 pm)Jörmungandr Wrote:(May 5, 2016 at 6:05 pm)SteveII Wrote: I believe, especially for an adult not raised in a Christian home, it is the appeal of Jesus as a person coupled with his teachings that draws people. Why do these things resonate with a large number of people?
The bulk of conversions occur between the ages of 4 and 14. For those who don't get it young from family, it isn't a "large number" of people that convert. Perhaps in Africa the situation is different, but there I suspect the church's draw as a social and community center is the drawing factor, not Jesus.
I've seen numbers in the US indicate that ~85% become Christians between 4 and 14. If we use that number for the rest of the world, that would mean approximately 325,500,000 (out of 2.17 billion) became Christians later than 15 years old.
Regarding the draw in Africa, Jesus taught to feed the hungry, cloth the poor, etc. Matthew 25:34-40
Some experts say that China will contain the largest number of Christians by 2025. How do you account for that if not the appeal of the message?
