This is really startling to watch the data change over time!
I wasn't sure where to post this, so I posted it in general religious debates.
Just one point. Popularity and numbers does not equate necessarily to influence.
I would venture to state in my humble view that the most influential religion of our times has been the Baha’i Faith. Only those, and only those who are fully aware of the scope of the Revelation of Baha’u’llah would know this.
It was He Who called for an ‘all embracing assemblage of men’ we’ll nigh one hundred years before the establishment of the UN, concepts such as equality between men and women began with Tahirih a Babi in Persia who has said ‘you can kill me but you cannot stop the emancipation of women’ in the 1840’s, the concept of the oneness of religion was established by Baha’u’llah after which decades later inspired movements such as the World Parliament of Religion and interfaith, the concept of one global village was taught by Baha’u’llah long before it became a common term, world citizenship also is a basic tenant promoted by Him that us now just beginning to take root, one world Auxilliary language gave inspiration to languages like Esperanto and so on.
This post would assume gigantic dimensions if I were to go into detail to try and explain to the reader, however unaware they may be, of the unmistakable enormous influence the Revelation Of Baha’u’llah has had on humanity.
While blacks and women had been denied the vote and slavery and apartheid ruled and oppression enveloped the world long before, Baha’u’llah was proclaiming from Prison
The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Day Star of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. The one true God, He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth of these words.
And
The earth is but one country and mankind it’s citizens.
Those who have researched this topic will be aware of just how influential the Revelation of Baha’u’llah has been and continues to exert on humanity. Not one village, town, city, state or nation, not one organisation whether it be a political, economic or sporting body has not been influenced to a very large degree by these teachings.
The oneness of humanity, set in motion by the Pen Of Baha’u’llah, is being established by the people of the world with their full acquiescence and agreement,