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There are more than 2 billion Christians across the globe.
The Christian faith transcends all barriers of culture, ethnicity, class, and nationality. Even in countries where religious persecution may make it dangerous for Christians to profess their faith, they exist everywhere.
Throughout history, Christians met openly and sometimes secretly. They express their faith in various ways today, which is why there's such a wide diversity of church denominations.
Nonetheless, the core belief system is the same.
In this article, we'll look at how Christianity came to be, its various denominations, and how it’s practiced in the United States today.
There’s no precise way to determine the number of religions in the world today, but some believe there are close to 4,000. A small number of major religious groups control most of those faiths.
The most basic definition of religion is a belief system established by a code of conduct, ethics, forms of worship, and rituals. Religion is a combination of social, ethical, and ceremonial elements as well as belief in an unseen world and often a deity.
Religion originates from the word “religio,” a Latin term that has a wealth of different definitions. One of those definitions can be translated as “awe or fear of a god or spirit.” Some religions include belief in and worship of a singular God, multiple gods, or spirits. Nearly all acknowledge a supernatural realm.
Generally, religion helps people understand the reason and purpose for their existence, clarify the afterlife, define the nature of God, and explain how humans can relate to Him. Religion also answers questions about the origins of life, clarifies the afterlife, and explains the spiritual world. The essence of religion is that it provides humans with the ties that connect them to God and to each other.
Some religions seem to have formed spontaneously. Others sprung forth from one person’s teachings, such as Buddhism originating with the Buddha and Christianity coming from the words of Christ.
Identifying symbols are used in many religions. Think of the Christian cross or the Jewish Star of David. These powerful symbols immediately evoke thoughts of the religion they represent.
Most religions also have a sacred text defining their core beliefs. These holy books often contain something of a blueprint for worship practices.
Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are the most common religions in the world.
The world’s Christian population spans Latin America, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.
Percentage of Christians around the world:
Worldwide, Christianity and Islam are the two most widely practiced religions. Together, these two religions account for more than half of the world's population. The world's third-largest religion would be non-religious people if they were to create a unified sect.
The number of Christians around the world exceeds 2 billion people. Christians believe in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the centerpiece of their faith.
Even though Christianity began with a small number of followers, many historians believe it was one of the most successful spiritual missions in human history.
Christians are monotheistic, meaning they believe in only one God and that He created heaven and earth. The divine trinity consists of the Father (God himself), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. A Christian's main belief is that Christ, the Messiah, was sent by God to save the world.
According to the Christian Bible, Jesus was crucified and resurrected three days after death to offer forgiveness and eternal life to his followers. The story of Jesus' Second Coming is a doctrine that claims he'll return to earth again in the future for Judgement day.
Jesus's teachings and the teachings of major prophets and disciples are outlined in the Holy Bible, as well as guidelines for Christians on how to live. Both Christians and Jews believe in the Old Testament, but Christians embrace the New Testament, which puts heavy emphasis on the life of Jesus.
The cross depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, which is why it’s a main symbol of Christianity. Christian holidays include Christmas, which commemorates Jesus's birth, and Easter, which celebrates Jesus's resurrection.
Christians emerged within Judaism at a time when Jews had been heavily influenced by foreign powers, politically and culturally. They found a vital identity within the community in their religion, rather than in their politics or achievements.
The religion of Israel saw tension between the concept of monotheism, with its universal idea of salvation, and the notion of God's special choice of Israel beginning with Amos (8th century BC).
The Law of Moses, also referred to as Mosaic Law, refers primarily to the Torah or the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. While there was agreement between early Christians and Jews on the Mosaic Law, Jews held doubts about whether Jesus was the Messiah, while Christians held firm in their affirmation that Jesus was indeed in the Messiah.
The first Christian church began on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after the death of Jesus, when the Holy Spirit is said to have descended upon Jesus's followers. Christian converts were mostly Jewish, and the church was based in Jerusalem. Many Gentiles (non-Jews) also converted to Christianity shortly after the church was founded.
Early Christians believed it was their duty to spread and teach the gospel. Paul, who was a former persecutor of Christians, was considered one of the most important missionaries. Aside from his role as a preacher, it is widely believed that Paul wrote 13 of the New Testament’s 27 books.
In Acts of the Apostles, it’s described that Paul converted to Christianity after having a spiritual encounter with Jesus. Throughout the Roman Empire, Europe, and Africa, Paul preached the gospel and established churches.
According to historians, Christianity wouldn't have spread as widely without Paul's influential work.
A majority of historians agree that Jesus was born sometime between 2 B.C. and 7 B.C. One of our primary sources of information about Jesus is the New Testament in the Christian Bible.
The text reports that Jesus was born to a young Jewish virgin named Mary in Bethlehem, a small town south of Jerusalem. The virgin birth was a supernatural event, with God impregnating Mary through the Holy Spirit.
There are very few details about Jesus's childhood. Scriptural records show that Christ grew up in Nazareth, fled persecution under King Herod to Egypt, and had an adoptive father, Joseph, a carpenter.
As a Jew raised by Jewish parents, many scholars believe Jesus aimed to reform Judaism, not create a new religion. A prophet known as John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River when He was around 30 years old. As a result, Jesus began his public ministry.
12 appointed disciples, also known as apostles, traveled with Jesus as he taught before large crowds, performing miracles as witnesses attested. The most famous miracles included raising Lazarus from the dead, walking on water, and curing blindness.
In his teachings, Jesus often used parables or stories with hidden messages. In his most famous speech, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus summarized many of his moral teachings for his followers, which later became the foundation for Christianity.
Many scholars believe Jesus died between 30 A.D. and 33 A.D., although there is some debate over the exact date. A biblical account says that Jesus was charged, tried, and condemned to death. Because Jewish leaders pressed the Roman governor Pontius Pilate for blasphemy accusations against Jesus, Pilate decided to execute him.
He was crucified in Jerusalem by Roman soldiers and buried in a tomb. The Bible asserts that Jesus's body disappeared three days after his crucifixion.
Several people reported seeing and interacting with Jesus in the days following his death. The Bible says that the resurrected Jesus ascended into Heaven and that one day, he will return.
The world is now filled with followers of Jesus. However, the global community of more than 2 billion Christians is split into thousands of denominations.
Some popular denominations include Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist, to name a few. In the United States, there are an estimated 200 Christian denominations, and there are at least 45,000 worldwide.
What’s the purpose of Christianity having so many branches?
Various factors, such as disagreements in belief, power grabs, and corruption, played a role. The notion of differentiation and variety has been a hallmark of the Christian tradition since its beginning.
Jesus's ministry began in A.D. 27 and lasted until A.D. 325, during which time the early church was largely divided by geography. Various interpretations of Jesus's teachings and worship styles evolved based on regional customs and culture. During this period, there were also various major break-ups over Christian theology.
The Arian controversy in the early fourth century, one of the most notable early schisms, divided the church over the relationship between Jesus and God. According to Arius, a priest from Alexandria, Egypt, Jesus was a lesser divinity because he was "begotten" or brought about by God. But Athanasius, a theologian of Alexandria, claimed that Jesus was God in human form.
Today there are three main branches of Christianity, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodox.
Roman Catholicism has been the most important spiritual force in Western civilization, mainly due to the Vatican's role in Italy.
The history of the Roman Catholic Church can be traced back to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The Catholic papacy is the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in existence. It has developed an elaborate organizational structure over the many centuries.
With nearly 1.1 billion followers, Roman Catholicism is the largest religious tradition in the world. The Roman Catholic Church is larger than all other Christian denominations combined. Muslim numbers are greater than Roman Catholics, but Roman Catholics have a larger number than those adhering to individual traditions such as Shi'i and Sunni Islam.
As with any complicated and ancient phenomenon, Roman Catholicism is described and interpreted in a number of ways and with a variety of methodologies. The Roman Catholic is highly complex, with a traditional dynamic between the Pope at the top and the faithful at the bottom.
The Protestant movement emerged in northern Europe during the early 16th century as a reaction to the doctrines and practices of medieval Roman Catholicism.
During the Reformation, Protestants predominantly referred to two schools of thought, the Lutheran and the Reformed. Early in the 17th century, it was used to describe "orthodox" Protestants versus unorthodox Protestants like Baptists or Quakers, who were seen as heretics by Anglicans.
However, it was used by Roman Catholics to denigrate all Christians who disagreed with Catholicism (except for the Eastern churches). Later, the term was used to encompass Baptists, Quakers, and Catholic-minded Anglicans.
Following a series of religious wars in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, especially in the 19th century, it spread worldwide. In every place Protestantism established itself, it impacted all aspects of social, political, and economic life there.
Eastern Orthodoxy refers to the large body of Christians who follow the faith and practices that were defined by the seven ecumenical councils.
Orthodox refers to the right belief or community as defined by the councils instead of those who were declared heretics. It is officially called “the Orthodox Catholic Church” in Eastern Orthodox text. However, because of its links with the Eastern Roman Empire and Byzantium (Constantinople), it’s commonly called the “Eastern” or “Greek Orthodox” Church.
Often, these terms are misunderstood, especially when used to describe Russian or Slavic churches or Orthodox communities in western Europe or America.
Christian practices vary by denomination, but common elements include attending worship services on Sunday. Praying individually and as a group, studying the Scriptures, and participating in religious rites such as baptism and communion are all a part of worship practices.
Christianity is characterized by being baptized, whether as an infant or as an adult, and regularly participating in communion, also known as the Lord's Supper and the Eucharist. Christ instituted baptism and communion as sacraments or sacred rituals. The Roman Catholic Church also recognizes five additional sacraments as well as many other distinctive practices, such as praying the rosary and taking pilgrimages.
Catholicism has seven sacraments, an annual Sunday mass, devotion to Mary and the saints, and veneration of relics and places devoted to holy figures. The Eastern Orthodox Church shares many practices with Catholicism. However, it usually identifies its spirituality through ornate icons that depict the saints and Christ.
During prayer, a Christian communicates with God.
Praying may take the form of verbal communication, written communication, or silent communication. Various expressions of faith may be included in the petition, confession, lamentation, etc. The topic of prayer is present in both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible.
Prayer is included in the Old Testament alongside other religious acts, such as sacrifices, vows, fasts, and ceremonies of mourning. In Hebrew, the verb ‘athar or he‘ethir means "to pray." In Arabic, it means "to sacrifice," so the verb has always symbolized a cultic meaning.
However, the Old Testament prayers don’t prescribe external ceremonies or postures like those practiced later by Jews and Muslims. In ancient times, prayer preceded sacrifices; later, it is expressed specifically as part of daily service, partly as a function of the Levites shared by all.
During prayer, people were to humble themselves before the Lord as a subject would before a king. An individual who speaks to God asks for salvation, redemption, a favor, a gift, or whatever they require in life. Questions like these can be asked for individuals or people close to them, like family, friends, or even perfect strangers.
To express purity, the hands were extended to heaven or toward the sanctuary in intercession. Praying is the most natural expression of religious life, and it can be conducted anywhere, although sanctuaries were considered to be the most appropriate.
The typical Christian worship service today includes singing, praying, and listening to a sermon. In most churches, people are designated for leadership positions by ordination or some other ritual. Many practicing Christians read the Bible and pray regularly at home.
Christianity is the most prevalent religion in the United States. In a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, 70% of adults in the United States identified as Christians.
As Europeans first colonized the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries, Christianity was introduced. The Christian population continued to grow due to immigration. Numerous sources have termed the United States a Protestant nation since its foundation.
Today, Christian demographics in the U.S. are the largest globally and, more specifically, the largest Protestant population. The number of Protestants in the U.S. was over 141 million in 2019, although other countries have higher percentages of Christians altogether.
At 48.5% of the population, Protestantism is the most prevalent form of Christianity in the United States and the majority religion in general. In contrast, the Catholic Church represents the largest individual denomination with 22.7%.
The United States is no longer mostly Protestant when "irreligion" and "unaffiliated" are included as religious categories.
The Southern Baptist Convention is the second-largest church in the U.S. and the largest Protestant denomination in the country. Several Eastern Orthodox and Asian Orthodox churches have just below 1 million adherents in the U.S. or 0.4% of the total population.
However, with the number of unaffiliated people in the U.S., Christianity is slowly declining.
The teachings of Jesus warned of a cost for those who chose to follow him.
The cost of being a Christian has been high over the centuries. The persecution of Christians continues today in many countries where they are viewed as a threat to authority.
Yet the Christian faith has endured, despite all.
For more about global Christianity, download the Pray.com app in the iOS App Store or Google Play.
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