THE 1970S AND THE EMERGING INTEREST IN CHURCH GROWTH AND DECLINE.

In this article the author reports on research conducted into the content of this journal during the 1970s. The articles of that era that analyzed religious organizations and movements concerned themselves with a number of specific aspects including the beliefs of mainstream religious organizations, social structure within such groups, the leadership roles of clergy and other religious personnel and issues relating to sizes of church denominations and congregations. Topics connected to the study of the sociology of religion in the 1970s are also examined.