Mormonism - An Encyclopedia Article from 2067
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 2:00 pm
This is my prediction of the future of the church.
Mormon, a member of one of several sects tracing their origins to a religion founded by American Joseph Smith in the United States in the mid-19th century. At one time considered one of the fastest growing religions in the world, Mormonism peaked in wealth, influence, and numbers at the turn of the 20th century. A series of secession crises in the mainstream church, combined with the general decline of Western Christianitym gradually eroded membership, until by the year 2050 there were fewer than two million members (from a high of nearly fifteen million in 2010). While numbers have rebounded in recent years to nearly 2.5 million Mormons, most of this growth is in fundamentalist, polygamist communities (450,000), or conservative offshoots (650,000) that still teach against gay marriage and in favor traditional gender roles. Although greatly diminished, the Salt Lake City based church remains the largest sect, boasting nearly a million members, mostly in Utah and Idaho, with the balance of Mormons belonging to so-called Reform Mormonism, that no long practice temple rituals, the Word of Wisdom, or believe the Book of Mormon to be literal history.
Mormon, a member of one of several sects tracing their origins to a religion founded by American Joseph Smith in the United States in the mid-19th century. At one time considered one of the fastest growing religions in the world, Mormonism peaked in wealth, influence, and numbers at the turn of the 20th century. A series of secession crises in the mainstream church, combined with the general decline of Western Christianitym gradually eroded membership, until by the year 2050 there were fewer than two million members (from a high of nearly fifteen million in 2010). While numbers have rebounded in recent years to nearly 2.5 million Mormons, most of this growth is in fundamentalist, polygamist communities (450,000), or conservative offshoots (650,000) that still teach against gay marriage and in favor traditional gender roles. Although greatly diminished, the Salt Lake City based church remains the largest sect, boasting nearly a million members, mostly in Utah and Idaho, with the balance of Mormons belonging to so-called Reform Mormonism, that no long practice temple rituals, the Word of Wisdom, or believe the Book of Mormon to be literal history.
