References & Bibliography
References & Bibliography Mathematics of Church Growth Church Growth Revival System Dynamics Sociology of Religion Epidemics Social Diffusion   Details of Models Limited Enthusiasm  Births, Deaths & Reversion  Renewal   Details of Results Summary of Results Short Term Revival  Long Term Growth Long Term Decline Growth via Renewal Publications Articles Models for Download Defence of Church Growth Modelling	Mathematics of Church Growth There a small number of papers that attempt to use either mathematics or system dynamics to examine church growth. Sadly none have to date been followed up. Perhaps the most interesting is Physics for Anthropologists by logan and Dye 1984, which only came to the attention of the Church Growth Modelling project in 2005 More Mathematics of Church Growth References... Church Growth There are many books an Church Growth. For someone new to the field Eddie Gibbs "I Believe in Church Growth" remains a good introduction. For an understanding of recent church growth trends in the UK "The Tide is Running Out" by Peter Brierley is quite perceptive. Title is available from Christian Research . More Church Growth References... Revival Revival is a term commonly used within the Christian Church to describe an infusion of spiritual life into those who believe, resulting in the substantial growth of the church. To understand what the nature of revival in terms of its biblical and historical contexts read Revival: A People Saturated by God by Brian Edwards, and Revival by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Both clearly express our need of revival now and the urgency with which we must seek it. Among the older authors, the works by Jonathan Edwards are unbeatable for spiritual value. More Revival References... Systems Dynamics Systems dynamics was pioneered in the 1960's by Jay W Forrester whose books still provide penetrating insights. Business Dynamics by John Sterman is a good technical introduction. The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge is a good introductory account to systems thinking suitable for a "lay" audience. Systems dynamics is an academic discipline thus there are many papers published in specialist journals. More Systems Dynamics References... Return to Top Sociology of Religion The sociology of religion has undergone something of a paradigm shift in recent years. The older view championed secularization theory which claimed the religion's importance would wither away as society becomes more developed. The newer view is that religion not only survives but flourishes in modern society and is thus a subject worthy of study. The newer work's provide many insights into the state of the church and its growth from a sociologist's viewpoint although they rarely spiritually beneficial!. However Christians would find Kelley's book: Why Conservative Churches are Growing a profitable read. More Sociology of Religion References ... Return to Top Epidemics An epidemic occurs when an infectious disease spreads rapidly through a population. Epidemiology, the study of the spread of diseases, is a well developed academic discipline with a high mathematical content. The original paper was by Kermack and McKendrick in 1927, which the basis for the Limited Enthusiasm model of church growth. The books by Bailey and Anderson and May, are the subject's definitive works. More Epidemic References ... Return to Top Social Diffusion There are other forms of diffusion in society apart from the spread of a disease. Diffusion models are used extensively to in marketing and the spread of technological innovation. Coleman's Mathematical Sociology is still the definitive volume. More Diffusion References ... Return to Top