The best-known version of this theory was advanced by Peter Berger.

The best-known version of this theory was advanced by Peter Berger.[^13] He argued that religious pluralism reduces religious vitality through its effect on plausibility.[^14] The more worldviews there are, the less plausible each seems, and as a result, the less religious belief and activity there will be. Over the last decade, this theory has been challenged by advocates of religious economics or a “supply-side” model of religious activity.

Led by Roger Finke and Rodney Stark, the challengers have argued that the traditional view is backwards; religious pluralism can be positively associated with religious participation. For them, the key mechanism is not plausibility, it is competition. Starting from the assumption that “religious economics are like commercial economies,” they argue that competition among religious groups increases the…