Econophysics of a religious cult: The Antoinists in Belgium [1920–2000]

In the framework of applying econophysics ideas in religious topics, the finances of the Antoinist religious movement organised in Belgium between 1920 and 2000 are studied. The interest of investigating financial aspects of such a, sometimes called, sect stems in finding characteristics of conditions and mechanisms under which definitely growth a n d decay features of communities can be understood. The legally reported yearly income and expenses between 1920 and 2000 are studied. A three wave asymmetric regime is observed over a trend among marked fluctuations at times of crises. The data analysis leads to the proposition of a general mechanistic model taking into account an average GDP growth, oscillatory monetary inflation and a logistic population drift.