When Antoine died in 1912, there were fewer than a thousand followers and thousands of supporters; in the 1920s, the number of followers rose to 700,000, including 300,000 in Belgium. During its first decades, Antoinism spread so fast that even American newspapers published articles about the religion, one of them stating that it " attracting considerable attention in Europe". Author Françoise d'Eaubonne considered that the physique of Antoine, which she found attractive, may have contributed to his success. According to Bégot, the success of Antoinist healing in the early 20th century can be explained by the fact that "it offered an alternative to the legitimate institutions of control of body and soul", i.e. the Catholic Church and medicine. She added: "Carrier of a social protest, it is nevertheless a way of socioeconomic integration". French historian and sociologist Émile Poulat stated that the religion "has always appeared calm and beneficient".