I have witnessed many believers over the years claim that some statistic validates the truthfulness of their religion. E.g.:
"Mine is the fastest growing religion on the planet!"
"___ number of people can't be wrong!"
"Hardly anyone from my religion deconverts."
Sometimes the argument works the opposite way, and believers argue that the smallness of their religion somehow validates them:
"God says that narrow is the way that leads to life, so it makes sense that not many people follow this path."
Do membership statistics ever demonstrate that a religion is true or likely to be true? If so, please explain how.
"Mine is the fastest growing religion on the planet!"
"___ number of people can't be wrong!"
"Hardly anyone from my religion deconverts."
Sometimes the argument works the opposite way, and believers argue that the smallness of their religion somehow validates them:
"God says that narrow is the way that leads to life, so it makes sense that not many people follow this path."
Do membership statistics ever demonstrate that a religion is true or likely to be true? If so, please explain how.