David B. Barrett

David B. Barrett (1927-2011) was a British-born religious researcher and Anglican missionary who specialized in the statistical analysis of global religious movements and world Christianity. He founded the World Christian Database and is best known for creating the World Christian Encyclopedia, first published in 1982, which became a fundamental reference work for religious demographics. Barrett spent much of his career documenting and analyzing religious trends across Africa, where he worked as a missionary and researcher from 1957 to 1985. His methodological innovations in religious demographic research included developing new ways to count and classify religious adherents, particularly in regions where traditional record-keeping was limited. As founding editor of the International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Barrett helped establish systematic approaches to studying global religious movements. His work at the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary contributed significantly to the field of religious demographics and missiology. Barrett's research publications and databases continue to be widely used by academics, religious organizations, and journalists studying global religious trends. The methodologies he developed for quantifying religious adherence have influenced how religious demographics are studied and reported worldwide.

Readers praise Barrett's meticulous data collection and comprehensive scope in the World Christian Encyclopedia, with many academic reviewers noting its value as a reference work. Several scholars highlight his innovative methods for tracking religious movements in Africa where formal records were scarce. What readers liked: - Detailed statistical analysis backed by field research - Clear presentation of complex demographic data - Regular updates that tracked changing religious patterns What readers disliked: - Technical writing style that some found difficult to parse - High cost of publications limited accessibility - Some questioned methodology for counting adherents in overlapping religious groups Review data is limited since Barrett's works were primarily academic publications. The World Christian Encyclopedia maintains a 4.5/5 rating on Amazon (12 reviews) and 4.3/5 on Goodreads (8 reviews). Academic reviewers frequently cite the "unprecedented scope" of his demographic work, though some note potential Western bias in classification methods. One reviewer noted: "Barrett created the foundation for understanding global religious demographics, despite some methodological limitations."

World Christian Encyclopedia (1982) A comprehensive statistical survey of global Christianity and world religions, containing demographic data, historical analysis, and detailed information about religious movements across countries and territories.

Annual Statistical Table on Global Mission (Published yearly from 1985) A yearly publication providing updated statistics on religious demographics, missionary activity, and church growth patterns worldwide.

Our Globe and How to Reach It (1990) A detailed examination of global evangelization strategies based on demographic research and statistical analysis of unreached populations.

Cosmos, Chaos and Gospel: A Chronology of World Evangelization from Creation to New Creation (1987) A historical timeline tracking the spread of Christianity from its origins through modern times, supported by statistical data and demographic analysis.

Seven Hundred Plans to Evangelize the World (1988) A systematic compilation and analysis of various historical and contemporary approaches to global evangelization, including statistical assessments of their reach and impact.

World Class Cities and World Evangelization (1986) A demographic study focusing on religious patterns in major urban centers worldwide, examining the relationship between urbanization and religious change.

Todd M. Johnson He continued Barrett's work as director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity and co-authored updated editions of the World Christian Encyclopedia. Johnson expanded Barrett's methodologies for religious demographic research while maintaining similar focuses on global Christianity and missionary movements.

Patrick Johnstone His "Operation World" reference series parallels Barrett's work in tracking global Christian demographics and missionary activities. Johnstone developed similar systematic approaches to gathering religious statistics and analyzing Christian movements across cultures.

Andrew F. Walls His research on African Christianity and missionary movements builds on Barrett's foundational work in these areas. Walls shares Barrett's focus on documenting how Christianity adapts and spreads in different cultural contexts.

Philip Jenkins He analyzes global Christianity demographics and religious movements using methods similar to Barrett's statistical approaches. Jenkins' work on tracking shifts in global Christianity follows Barrett's emphasis on documenting changing patterns of religious adherence.

Lamin Sanneh His studies of Christianity in Africa connect directly to Barrett's research in the same region and time period. Sanneh's work on documenting African Christian movements uses similar methodological frameworks to Barrett's demographic studies.