Description

Creating a Detailed Outline

Thesis Statement: Fertility, mortality, and Conversions are three causes why religions are increasing and decreasing.

I.       Supporting Point: Fertility

1. Supporting Detail: Religions that have more fertility are increasing. Islam has the highest fertility. Christian is the second.

1.      Evidence: Muslims have the highest fertility rate worldwide, averaging 3.1 children per woman. Christians are second, at 2.7 children per woman.

2.      Evidence: It is projected that Muslims – a relatively young demographic with high fertility levels – would rise by 73%. It is also estimated that the number of Christians will increase, but more slowly, at around the same rate (35 per cent) as the total global population.

2. Supporting Detail: Religions that have low fertility are decreasing.  The unaffiliated and Buddhist are decreasing because they have low fertility.

1.      Evidence: Certain groups, such as the unaffiliated (1.7) and Buddhists (1.6), have fertility rates too low to sustain their populations.

2.      Evidence: Despite low fertility levels and ageing populations in countries like China, Thailand and Japan, the global Buddhist population is projected to be relatively stable due to conversions into Buddhism.

II.    Supporting Point: Age distribution and mortality.

A.    Supporting Detail: Muslims are increasing because there is high number of people younger than 15.

1.      Evidence: In 2010, more than a quarter of the world’s total population (27%) was under the age of 15. But an even higher percentage of Muslims (34%) was younger than 15.

B.     Supporting Detail: Some religions are decreasing because they have 60 years people.

1.      Evidence: 15% of Buddhists and 14% of Christians around the world are 60 or older, as are 13% of the unaffiliated.

III.             Supporting Point: Conversions and switching religions.

1. Supporting Detail: In some countries it's easy and common to leave religion and switch into another religion.

1.      Evidence: It is relatively common in some countries for adults to abandon their childhood religion and turn to another religion.

2. Supporting Detail: In the future, Christians will decrease because there is a lot of switching out.

1.      Evidence: Globally, nearly 40 million people are expected to convert to Christianity, while 106 million are expected to leave.

3. Supporting Detail: Unaffiliated will increase due to switching.

1.      Evidence: It is anticipated that non-affiliates will add 97 million people and lose 36 million via switching, for a net gain of 61 million by 2050.