Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion that recognizes Jesus Christ as its central figure and founder. With over 2.1 billion adherents, or about one-third of the total world population, it is the largest religion. Its origins are intertwined with Judaism, with which it shares much sacred text, especially the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, which Christians call the Old Testament. Christianity is sometimes termed an Abrahamic religion, along with Judaism, Islam (see Judeo-Christo-Islamic), and more recently, the Bahá'í Faith.

The names "Christian" and hence "Christianity" are first attested in Acts 11:26, "For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch Jesus' disciples were first called Christians" (Gr. χριστιανους, from Christ Gr. Χριστός, which means "the anointed").

Christianity encompasses numerous religious traditions that widely vary by culture and place, as well as many diverse beliefs and sects. Since the Reformation, Christianity is usually represented as being divided into three main branches:

1. Catholicism: With over 1 billion baptized members, this category includes the Catholic Church (or Roman Catholic Church), the largest single body—which includes several Eastern Catholic communities—as well as certain smaller communities (e.g., the Old Catholic Church) not in full communion with the (Roman) Catholic Church, many of whom reject the primacy of the pope, hold that the papacy is vacant, or recognize a different pope.
2. Eastern Christianity includes the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Assyrian Church of the East, all with a combined membership of over 240 million baptized members;
3. Protestantism: This group includes numerous denominations and schools of thought such as: Anglicanism, Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist, Anabaptist, Evangelicalism, Charismatics and Pentecostalism, all of which are descended, directly or indirectly, from the Roman Church via the Reformation of the 16th century. Many identify themselves simply as Christian. Worldwide total is just under 500 million.

Other denominations and churches which self-identify as Christian but which distance themselves from the above classifications together claim around 275 million members. These include African Indigenous Churches with up to 110 million members (estimates vary widely), Jehovah's Witnesses with approximately 15 million members, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also called Mormons) with over 12 million members, and other groups. (Source:Adherents website) The early leaders of most of these groups were originally Protestant adherents.

These broad divisions are not equally uniform. On the contrary, some branches encompass vast disagreements, and in other cases the division overlooks existing sympathies. But this is the convenient standard overview of distinctions, especially as Christianity has been viewed in the Western world.

History

Main article: History of Christianity

The history of Christianity is difficult to extricate from that of the European West (and several other culture-regions) in general. By way of summary, we may note Christianity's early geographic expansion from the Levant across the Mediterranean Basin; its legalization under Constantine the Great and establishment as the official religion of the Roman Empire under Theodosius I; the development of ancient Christian minority communities in Persia, India, and China; the conversion of various southern European (e.g. Armenia in 301 and Georgian kingdom of Caucasian Iberia in 317), and northern European kingdoms (e.g. Ireland in the 5th century, Russia in 988); the Great Schism which divided Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism (conventionally dated 1054); the loss of north Africa and the Middle East to Islam (numerous military struggles--see Battle of Tours, Crusades, Reconquista, Fall of Constantinople); the Protestant Reformation (Martin Luther published his 95 theses in 1517); Christianity's spread to the Americas, Oceania, the Philippines, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Korea; the division of Protestantism into thousands of denominations; and modern debates about science (notably heliocentricism, evolution), biblical criticism, and feminism.

For the contributions of Christianity to the humanities and world culture, see Christian philosophy, Christian art, Christian literature, Christian music, Christian architecture.

A chart showing the development of various churches from their roots in early Christianity.

See also: Timeline of Christianity

Beliefs

Though enormous diversity exists in the beliefs of those who self-identify as Christian, it is possible to venture general statements which describe the beliefs of a large majority. One such statement is the Nicene Creed, ratified as the universal creed of Orthodox and Catholic Christendom by the Council of Ephesus in 431, and generally believed to be true by Protestants as well. Therefore, the Nicene Creed is generally acknowledged to be the most universally accepted summary expression of the Christian faith. Translated from the Greek, it reads as follows:

I [or "We"] believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty

Maker of heaven and earth

And of all things visible and invisible.

And in his only Son Jesus Christ, our Lord

begotten [or "born": most literally, "generated"] of the Father before all ages,

God of God, light of light, true God of true God,

Begotten [see above], not made

Of one essence [or "being"] with the Father

By Whom all things were made.

For us humans and for our salvation he came down from heaven

And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary

And was made human.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures

He ascended into heaven

And is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

His kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life

Who proceeds from the Father [Western churches add, ..."and the Son"--see filioque]

Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified

Who spoke through the prophets

And in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

I expect the resurrection of the dead,

And the life of the age to come. Amen.

Central Christian beliefs which are affirmed in the Nicene Creed include, but are not limited to:

• The Trinity: God is a single eternal being who exists as three distinct, eternal, and indivisible persons: Father, Son (Divine Logos, incarnated as Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost).
• Jesus Christ is both fully God (divine) and fully human: two natures in one person. He is without sin.
• That salvation from "sin and death" is available through the person and work of Jesus Christ, especially his sacrificial execution and resurrection, by which humanity, and the entire universe, are "redeemed" and reconciled with God. Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians have arrived at several explanations as to exactly how this salvation, or atonement, occurs. (See soteriology.)
• Jesus's virgin birth, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and Second Coming.
• The "General Resurrection," in which all people who have ever lived will rise from the dead at the end of time, to be judged by the returned Christ.

Obviously, not all Christians have accepted all of these articles of faith, or else such a creed would never have been written. The Creed's lines frequently target certain opposing beliefs of other early Christians, which the council regarded as heretical. Examples would include Ebionite groups which denied Jesus's divinity, a well as Docetist groups which denied that Christ was a human being, or Arians, who disputed that the Father and the Son were "of one being". Other early heresies included Simonianism, Marcionism, Gnosticism and Montanism.

Again, while some churches take exception to some of these articles, to the extent that they do so, this usually represents a conscious departure from the Christian mainstream. Some Christian traditions, such as those of the Baptists and the Churches of Christ, would accept these beliefs, but not the creed itself, since all creeds are regarded as unnecessary and even counter-productive in these circles.

Some groups, however, deviate from tenets which most others hold as absolutely basic to Christianity. On account of these deviations they are considered heretical or even "non-Christian" by many of the mainstream Christian groups. Most such disputes center on the divinity of Jesus, the Trinity, or both.

Scriptures and tradition

Virtually all Christian churches accept the authority of the Bible, including the Old Testament and the New Testament. Differences exist in the canons of the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant churches — primarily their treatment of the Deuterocanonical books used by Catholic and Orthodox Churches, but rejected by Protestants as Apocrypha. This issue affects doctrines only indirectly. More theologically significant is the Swedenborgian churches' rejection of the New Testament Epistles, a stance which has not won acceptance from any other denomination.

Whereas Jews see the Torah as the most important part of the Bible, most Christians regard the Gospels, which tell of the life and teachings of Jesus, as central. Ornamental books of the four gospels are sometimes used in church liturgies. These may be carried into the church in procession, and laid upon the altar during the first part of the service. The "gospel" means the "good news" of the Christian message, which Christians regularly disseminate to others. This may include missionary work as well as the translation and distribution of Bibles, as practiced by Gideons International.

If Christians largely agree on the content of the Bible, no such consensus is forthcoming on the crucial matter of its interpretation, an issue which divides denominations from within as well as from one another. "Biblical literalism" or "Christian fundamentalism" describe well-known conservative hermeneutic stances with respect to Christian scriptures, and are mainly associated with Protestantism.

Catholics, the Orthodox, and some Anglicans consider the Bible as having been produced by one phase (albeit formative) of the development of church tradition, which has continued through the decisions of the ecumenical councils, the writings of the Church Fathers, the lives and teachings of the saints, liturgical practice, sacred art, papal statements (Roman Catholics), and is in fact alive today. Indeed, one Orthodox theologian has characterized the (Orthodox) tradition as "the voice of the Holy Spirit in the Church."

Protestants, meanwhile, tend to accept Martin Luther's dictum of sola scriptura, which sees the Bible as the ultimate, or only, source of faith and doctrine. It also assumes that any Christian believer is capable of rightly interpreting it. Even Protestants concede that this view raises difficulties, especially given the wide variety of practices and beliefs which have some arguable claim to biblical warrant and, based on these divergencies, because Protestantism has spawned such a large variety of denominations and traditions.

Some Christian groups have also elevated additional writings to the status of inspired scripture. Well-known examples would include the Book of Mormon, considered to be "another Testament of Jesus Christ" by the Latter Day Saints, or Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy. Others, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, have produced translations of the Bible which they hold to be alone wholly reliable. This elevation of other writings to the same level as accepted scriptures is a major cause for disputes between these groups and mainstream Christians. One might expect Lutherans and Calvinists to regard the interpretations of Luther and Calvin, respectively, with similar reverence. Most Catholic and Protestant theologians would agree that their writings are a mixture of good and bad, and are in no way "inspired."

Worship and Practices

Orthodox and Catholic believers describe Christian worship in terms of the seven sacraments or "mysteries." These include baptism, the Eucharist (communion), matrimony, Holy Orders, confirmation or Chrismation, penance and reconciliation, and the Anointing of the Sick.

Many Protestant groups, following Martin Luther, recognize the sacramental nature of baptism and communion, but not usually the other five. Anabaptist and Brethren groups would add feet washing. Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Holiness Churches emphasize "gifts of the Spirit" such as spiritual healing, prophecy, exorcism, speaking in tongues, or (very occasionally) snake handling. These emphasis are used not as "sacraments" but as means of worship and ministry. The Quakers deny the entire concept of sacraments. Nevertheless, their "testimonies" affirming peace, integrity, equality, and simplicity are affirmed as integral parts of the Quaker belief structure.

In general, Protestants tend to view Christian rituals in terms of commemoration apart from mystery. Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and many Anglican Christians hold the commemoration and mystery of rituals together, seeing no contradiction between them.

Virtually all Christians traditions affirm that Christian practice should include acts of personal piety such as prayer, Bible reading, and attempting to live a moral lifestyle, to include not only obedience to the Ten Commandments, as interpreted by Christ (as in the Sermon on the Mount), but also love for one's neighbor, whether friend or enemy, Christian or non-Christian, in both attitude and action. This love is commanded by Christ and, according to him, is next only in importance to love of God. Christianity teaches that it is impossible for people to completely reform themselves, but that moral and spiritual progress can only occur with God's help through the gift of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within all faithful believers. Christians believe that by sharing in Christ's life, death, and resurrection they die with him to sin and can be resurrected with him to new life.

Weekly Worship services

Justin Martyr (First Apology, chapter LXVII) describes a second-century church service thus:

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.

Justin's description, which would apply equally well to most church services today, alludes to the following components:

• Scripture readings drawn from the Old Testament, one of the Gospels, or an Epistle. Often these are arranged systematically around an annual cycle, using a book called a lectionary.

• A sermon. In ancient times this followed the scripture readings; today this may occur later in the service, although in liturgical churches, the sermon still often follows the readings.

• Congregational prayer and thanksgiving. These will probably occur regularly throughout the service. Justin does not mention this, but some of these are likely to be sung in the form of hymns. The Lord's Prayer is especially likely to be recited.

• The Eucharist (also called Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper) -- a ritual in which small amounts of bread and wine are eaten and drunk. Most Protestants say these represent the body and blood of Christ; Orthodox, Catholics, and most Anglicans say that they become the body and blood of Christ (the doctrine of the Real Presence). Churches in the "liturgical" family (Orthodox, Catholic, and some Anglican) see this as the main part of the service, while Protestants may celebrate it less frequently. In many cases there are restriction on who may partake, which visitors should apprise themselves of. For example, only Catholics may receive communion at a Catholic church (and not even all of them would be permitted).

• A "collection" or "offering" in which the people are asked to contribute money. One common method is to pass around a collection plate. Christians traditionally use these monies not only for upkeep for the church, but also for charitable work of various types.

A number of variations or exceptions exist. Sometimes these are due to special events, such as baptisms or weddings which are incorporated into the service. In many churches today, children and youth will be excused from the main service in order to attend Sunday school. Many denominations depart from this general pattern in a more fundamental way. For example, the Seventh-Day Adventists meet on Saturday (the biblical Sabbath), not Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection. Charismatic or Pentecostal congregations may be spontaneously moved by the Holy Spirit, rather than follow a formal order of service. At a Quaker meeting, participants sit quietly until moved by the Holy Spirit to speak.

In some denominations (mainly liturgical ones), the service is led by a priest. In others (mainly among Protestants), there is a minister, preacher, or pastor. Still others may lack formal leaders, either in principle or by local necessity. In addition, there are "high" church services, characterized by greater solemnity and ritual, and "low" services at which a more casual atmosphere prevails, even if the service in question is liturgical in nature.

In Orthodox churches, the congregation traditionally stands throughout the liturgy (although allowances are made for human weakness). Roman Catholics and many Protestant churches follow a custom in which participants stand to sing, kneel to pray, and sit to listen (e.g., to the sermon). Others are less programmed, and may be quite lively and spontaneous. Music is usually incorporated, and often involves a choir and/or organ. Some churches use only a capella music, either on principle (many Churches of Christ object to the use of musical instruments in worship) or by tradition (as in Orthodoxy). A recent trend is the growth of "convergence worship" which combines liturgy with spontaneity. This sort of worship is often a result of the influence of charismatic renewal within Churches which are traditionally liturgical. Convergence worship has spawned at least one new denomination, the Charismatic Episcopal Church.

Christianity and persecution

Main articles: Persecution of Christians, Historical persecution by Christians

Before the Edict of Milan, ancient Christianity was an illegal movement, which many considered anti-social for worshipping an executed criminal in place of the traditional deities of Rome. Many early Christians met their deaths through martyrdom, sometimes in the arena, after refusing to renounce their faith.

Persecution of Christians is by no means a thing of the past, and today is generally associated with Muslim or Communist countries. For example, the People's Republic of China allows only government-regulated churches, and regularly cracks down on house churches or underground Catholics.

Christians have been perpetrators as well as victims of persecution. In ancient times, Christian mobs frequently molested pagans and destroyed their temples, sometimes with government support. The philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria was murdered by such a mob in the year 415. Jewish communities have periodically suffered violence at Christian hands.

Christians have persecuted not only members of other religions, but also other Christians. Byzantium suppressed non-Chalcedonian churches while Crusader armies sacked Byzantium. Protestant and Catholics fought the Thirty Years' War. Witch hunts of early modern Europe constituted another example.

In discussing persecution, we should be careful to distinguish between:

• official persecution by the state;
• acts of popular violence (which may be tacitly permitted by the state), and
• the side-effects of war and other social upheaval.

Present day examples of each include Greek and Russian governmental restrictions on non-Orthodox religious activity, anti-abortion violence in the United States, and the ongoing "troubles" in Northern Ireland. Complaints of discrimination have also been made of and by Christians in various contexts.

See also: Christian emigration

Christianity by country

Christianity by country

Region	Country	Population(2005E)	% Christian	Christian total
Central Asia	Christianity in Afghanistan	29,928,987	0.1%	30,000
Balkans	Christianity in Albania	3,563,112	30%	1,689,934
North Africa	Christianity in Algeria	32,531,853	0.4%	13,012
Southern Africa	Christianity in Angola	11,190,786	84.6%	9,456,395
South America	Christianity in Argentina	39,537,943	94%	37,165,720
Middle East	Christianity in Armenia	2,982,904	98.7%	2,944,122
Oceania	Christianity in Australia	20,090,437	67.4%	13,543,693
Central Europe	Christianity in Austria	8,184,691	85.2%	6,973,374
Middle East	Christianity in Azerbaijan	7,911,974	6.6%	519,027
Middle East	Christianity in Bahrain	688,345	9%	61,956
South Asia	Christianity in Bangladesh	144,319,628	0.7%	1,050,000
Eastern Europe	Christianity in Belarus	10,300,483	95%	9,785,475
Western Europe	Christianity in Belgium	10,364,388	89.3%	9,255,409
Central America	Christianity in Belize	279,457	84.2%	235,254
West Africa	Christianity in Benin	7,460,025	30%	2,238,000
South Asia	Christianity in Bhutan	2,232,291	0.3%	6,696
South America	Christianity in Bolivia	8,857,870	95%	8,415,100
Balkans	Christianity Bosnia and Herzegovina	4,025,476	46%	1,851,730
Southern Africa	Christianity in Botswana	1,640,115	71.6%	1,174,311
South America	Christianity in Brazil	186,112,794	90.3%	167,501,520
Southeast Asia	Christianity in Brunei	372,361	10%	37,236
Balkans	Christianity in Bulgaria	7,450,349	83.8%	6,243,435
West Africa	Christianity in Burkina Faso	13,925,313	10%	1,392,531
Central Africa	Christianity in Burundi	6,370,609	67%	4,268,308
Southeast Asia	Christianity in Cambodia	13,607,069	0.5%	27,215
West Africa	Christianity in Cameroon	16,380,005	40%	6,552,002
North America	Christianity in Canada	32,805,041	74%	24,275,700
Central Africa	Christianity in Central African Republic	3,799,897	50%	1,899,948
Central Africa	Christianity in Chad	9,826,419	35%	3,439,279
South America	Christianity in Chile	15,980,912	99%	15,821,190
East Asia	Christianity in China	1,306,313,812	6.6%	86,801,000
South America	Christianity in Colombia	42,954,279	98%	42,095,214
East Africa	Christianity in Comoros	671,247	2%	13,424
Central Africa	Christianity in Congo (Brazzaville)	3,039,126	50%	1,519,563
Central Africa	Christianity in Congo (Kinshasa)	60,085,004	80%	48,068,000
Central America	Christianity in Costa Rica	4,016,173	92%	3,694,904
Balkans	Christianity in Croatia	4,495,904	92.6%	4,167,000
North America	Christianity in Cuba	11,346,670	45%	5,106,015
Middle East	Christianity in Cyprus	780,133	82%	639,764
Central Europe	Christianity in Czech Republic	10,241,138	28.9%	2,949,465
West Africa	Christianity in Côte d'Ivoire	17,298,040	30%	5,190,000
Western Europe	Christianity in Denmark	5,432,335	97%	5,269,428
East Africa	Christianity in Djibouti	476,703	6%	28,608
Caribbean	Christianity in Dominican Republic	8,950,034	98%	8,771,098
Southeast Asia	Christianity in East Timor	1,040,880	93%	968,130
South America	Christianity in Ecuador	13,363,593	98%	13,096,330
North Africa	Christianity in Egypt	77,505,756	9%	6,975,540
Central America	Christianity in El Salvador	6,704,932	99.4%	6,664,770
East Africa	Christianity in Eritrea	4,561,599	50%	2,280,799
Eastern Europe	Christianity in Estonia	1,332,893	27.8%	370,546
East Africa	Christianity in Ethiopia	73,053,286	40%	29,221,320
Oceania	Christianity in Fiji	893,354	52%	464,568
Western Europe	Christianity in Finland	5,223,442	86.4%	4,513,104
Western Europe	Christianity in France	60,656,178	88%	53,377,456
West Africa	Christianity in Gabon	1,389,201	75%	1,041,900
West Africa	Christianity in The Gambia	1,593,256	9%	143,397
Middle East	Christianity in Georgia	4,677,401	88.6%	4,144,176
Western Europe	Christianity in Germany	82,431,390	70%	57,701,980
West Africa	Christianity in Ghana	21,029,853	63%	13,244,490
Balkans	Christianity in Greece	10,668,354	98%	10,028,296
Caribbean	Christianity in Grenada	89,502	99%	88,605
Central America	Christianity in Guatemala	14,655,189	85%	12,456,920
West Africa	Christianity in Guinea	9,467,866	8%	757,432
West Africa	Christianity in Guinea-Bissau	1,416,027	5%	70,800
South America	Christianity in Guyana	765,283	50%	382,640,
Caribbean	Christianity in Haiti	8,121,622	96%	7,796,832
Central America	Christianity in Honduras	6,975,204	99%	6,905,448
Central Europe	Christianity in Hungary	10,006,835	74.4%	7,435,126
Western Europe	Christianity in Iceland	296,737	93.8%	278,398
South Asia	Christianity in India	1,028,610,388	2.4%	25,000,000
Southeast Asia	Christianity in Indonesia	241,973,879	8%	19,357,920
Middle East	Christianity in Iran	68,017,860	0.2%	136,000
Middle East	Christianity in Iraq	26,074,906	2.8%	750,000
Western Europe	Christianity in Ireland	4,015,676	93%	3,734,601
Middle East	Christianity in Israel	6,276,883	2.1%	131,814
Western Europe	Christianity in Italy	58,103,033	96%	55,778,880
Caribbean	Christianity in Jamaica	2,731,832	80%	2,185,520
East Asia	Christianity in Japan	127,417,244	0.7%	1,000,000
Middle East	Christianity in Jordan	5,759,732	6%	345,600
Central Asia	Christianity in Kazakhstan	15,185,844	53%	8,048,580
East Africa	Christianity in Kenya	33,829,590	80%	27,064,000
East Asia	Christianity in Korea, North	22,912,177	0.05%	12,000
East Asia	Christianity in Korea, South	48,422,644	26%	12,589,902
Middle East	Christianity in Kuwait	2,335,648	10.7%	250,000
Central Asia	Christianity in Kyrgyzstan	5,146,281	20%	1,029,256
Southeast Asia	Chrisitanity in Laos	6,217,141	1.5%	93,256
Eastern Europe	Christianity in Latvia	2,290,237	65%	1,488,695
Middle East	Christianity in Lebanon	3,826,018	39%	1,492,140
Southern Africa	Christianity in Lesotho	1,867,035	80%	1,493,600
West Africa	Christianity in Liberia	3,482,211	40%	1,392,884
North Africa	Christianity in Libya	5,765,563	3%	172,968
Eastern Europe	Christianity in Lithuania	3,596,617	85%	3,057,195
Western Europe	Christianity in Luxembourg	468,571	90%	421,714
Balkans	Christianity in FYR Macedonia	2,045,262	32.6	666,767
Southern Africa	Christianity in Madagascar	18,040,341	41%	7,396,564
Southern Africa	Christianity in Malawi	12,158,924	80%	9,727,200
Southeast Asia	Christianity in Malaysia	23,953,136	10%	2,395,314
South Asia	Christianity in Maldives	349,106	n/a	n/a
West Africa	Christianity in Mali	12,291,529	90%	11,062,376
North Africa	Christianity in Mauritania	3,086,859	0.1	3,087
Southern Africa	Christianity in Mauritius	1,230,602	32.2%	396,253
North America	Christianity in Mexico	106,202,903	95%	100,892,850
Eastern Europe	Christianity in Moldova	4,455,421	98.2%	4,375,301
Central Asia	Christianity in Mongolia	2,791,272	0.3%	10,000
North Africa	Christianity in Morocco	32,725,847	0.1%	35,000
Southern Africa	Christianity in Mozambique	19,406,703	41.3%	8,014,967
Southeast Asia	Christianity in Myanmar	42,909,464	4%	1,716,378
Southern Africa	Christianity in Namibia	2,030,692	90%	1,827,630
South Asia	Christianity in Nepal	27,676,547	1.4%	400,000
Western Europe	Christianity in the Netherlands	16,407,491	51%	8,367,825
Oceania	Christianity in New Zealand	4,035,461	53.5%	2,158,992
Central America	Christianity in Nicaragua	5,465,100	91.5%	5,000,566
West Africa	Christianity in Niger	11,665,937	5%	583,300
West Africa	Christianity in Nigeria	128,771,988	45%	57,947,400
Western Europe	Christianity in Norway	4,593,041	90.1%	4,138,293
Middle East	Christianity in Oman	3,001,583	0.01%	450
South Asia	Christianity in Pakistan	162,419,946	2.5%	3,500,000
Central America	Christianity in Panama	3,039,150	90%	2,735,280
Oceania	Christianity in Papua New Guinea	5,545,268	66%	3,659,900
South America	Christianity in Paraguay	6,347,884	99%	6,284,421
South America	Christianity in Peru	27,925,628	83.1%	23,206,256
Southeast Asia	Christianity in The Philippines	87,857,473	92.5%	81,268,187
Central Europe	Christianity in Poland	38,635,144	91.4%	35,312,572
Western Europe	Christianity in Portugal	10,566,212	97%	10,249,310
Middle East	Christianity in Qatar	863,051	8.1%	70,000
Balkans	Christianity in Romania	22,329,977	99%	22,106,700
Eastern Europe	Christianity in Russia	143,420,309	74.3%	106,561,282
East Africa	Christianity in Rwanda	8,440,820	93.6%	7,892,335
East Africa	Christianity in San Marino	28,880	100%	28,880
Middle East	Christianity in Saudi Arabia	26,417,599	3.7%	1,000,000
West Africa	Christianity in Senegal	11,126,832	6%	667,620
Balkans	Christianity in Serbia and Montenegro	10,829,175	70%	7,576,100
East Africa	Christianity in Seychelles	81,188	93.2%	75,680
West Africa	Christianity in Sierra Leone	6,017,643	10%	601,765
Southeast Asia	Christianity in Singapore	4,425,720	14.6%	646,166
Central Europe	Christianity in Slovakia	5,431,363	83.8%	4,551,513
Central Europe	Christianity in Slovenia	2,011,070	61%	1,226,770
East Africa	Christianity in Somalia	8,591,629	n/a	n/a
East Africa	Christianity in Somaliland	7,591,629	n/a	n/a
Southern Africa	Christianity in South Africa	44,344,136	79.7%	35,342,330
Western Europe	Christianity in Spain	40,341,462	95%	38,727,840
South Asia	Christianity in Sri Lanka	20,064,776	6.2%	1,244,017
North Africa	Christianity in Sudan	40,187,486	5%	2,009,375
South America	Christianity in Suriname	438,144	50%	219,072
Southern Africa	Christianity in Swaziland	1,173,900	86%	1,009,555
Western Europe	Christianity in Sweden	9,001,774	92%	8,281,656
Western Europe	Christianity in Switzerland	7,489,370	79.3%	5,939,095
Middle East	Christianity in Syria	18,448,752	10%	1,844,876
East Asia	Christianity in Taiwan	22,894,384	4.5%	1,030,250
Central Asia	Christianity in Tajikistan	7,163,506	5%	358,175
East Africa	Christianity in Tanzania	36,766,356	30%	11,029,950
Southeast Asia	Christianity in Thailand	65,444,371	0.7%	458,110
West Africa	Christianity in Togo	5,681,519	29%	1,647,665
Central America	Christianity in Trinidad and Tobago	1,088,644	57.6%	627,090
North Africa	Christianity in Tunisia	10,074,951	0.5%	50,000
Middle East	Christianity in Turkey	69,660,559	0.2%	139,320
Central Asia	Christianity in Turkmenistan	4,952,081	10%	500,000
East Africa	Christianity in Uganda	27,269,482	66%	17,997,870
Eastern Europe	Christianity in Ukraine	47,425,336	68%	32,249,340
Middle East	Christianity in the United Arab Emirates	2,563,212	3%	76,900
Western Europe	Christianity in the United Kingdom	60,441,457	71.6%	43,276,114
North America	Christianity in the United States	295,734,134	80%	236,557,785
Caribbean	Christianity in Puerto Rico (U.S.)	3,916,632	93%	3,642,530
South America	Christianity in Uruguay	3,415,920	68%	2,322,880
Central Asia	Christianity in Uzbekistan	26,851,195	11%	2,953,632
South America	Christianity in Venezuela	25,375,281	98%	24,867,794
Southeast Asia	Christianity in Vietnam	83,535,576	7.2%	6,014,563
Middle East	Christianity in West Bank and Gaza	3,761,904	5%	188,100
North Africa	Christianity in Western Sahara	273,008	0.2%	546
Middle East	Christianity in Yemen	20,727,063	0.5%	103,635
Southern Africa	Christianity in Zambia	11,261,795	75%	8,446,350
Southern Africa	Christianity in Zimbabwe	12,746,990	75%	9,560,250
Total		6,446,131,400	2,135,783,000 [1]	32.84%[2]

See also

Jesus Jesus in the Christian Bible Bible Christian Christian apologetics Christian art Christian calendar Christian eschatology Christian music/Christian Rock Progressive Christianity Christian mythology Christian Meditation Christian Anarchism Christianity and anti-Semitism Christian stories Christian views of women Christian Symbolism Churchianity

Homosexuality and Christianity John 3:16 List of Christians Criticisms of Christianity Christian wikis Religious ministries Bible thumper Sermon on the Mount Sabbath Antinomianism History and denominations Christian history Christian theological controversy Eastern Christianity portal Great Schism List of Christian denominations

Notes

^ : While sharing the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament, Christianity nonetheless disagrees with many points of the Jewish understanding of these texts, or their significance for practice, based on the understanding found in the New Testament.

^ : Many Christians identify themselves as such not by the adherance to a set of religious rules or rites but instead by their personal relationship to Jesus Christ

References and select bibliography

• . ISBN 1565635221. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Author= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Title= ignored (|title= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |Year= ignored (|year= suggested) (help)
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• Oden, Thomas. Systematic Theology (an ecumenical trilogy)
  • Volume 1: The Living God (1992, ISBN 0060663634)
  • Volume 2: The Word of Life (1992, ISBN 0060663642)
  • Volume 3: Life in the Spirit (1994, ISBN 0060663626)
• Pelikan, Jaroslav (5 Volumes published between 1971-1989).The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine.
• Tolstoy, Leo (1894). The Kingdom of God is Within You. ISBN 0803294042.
• Tomkins, Stephen (2005). A Short History of Christianity (Lion).

External links

General sources

• ReligionFacts.com: Christianity Fast facts, glossary, timeline, history, beliefs, texts, holidays, symbols, people, etc.
• The Christian Classics Ethereal Library, containing the works of a wide spectrum of authors in doctrine, history, devotion, and Bible commentary
• WikiChristian, a wiki book on Christianity, church history and doctrine, and Christian art and music
• The Catholic Encyclopedia, containing detailed information on Catholic beliefs and history and the Catholic view of other churches and beliefs
• The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge from a Protestant perspective
• The Vatican contains much official information related to the Roman Catholic Church in many languages
• Syriac Orthodox Resources Large compendium of information and links relating to Oriental Orthodoxy.
• Rosicrucian Interpretation of Christianity, an esoteric view of Christian teachings.
• Bible Gateway The Bible online

Directories

• Christian Open Directory Project (The Largest Human Edited Christian Open Directory)
• Dmoz.org Open Directory Project: Christianity (a list of links with information about Christianity)
• Dmoz.org Open Directory Project: Contra Christianity (a list of links of opposing views on Christianity)

Statistical sources

• Afghanistan: [3]
• Angola: [4]
• Bangladesh: [5]
• Cuba [6]
• Djibouti: [7]
• El Salvador: [8]
• France: [9]
• Italy: [10]
• Jordan: [11]
• Korea, North: [12]
• Kuwait: [13]
• Morocco: [14]
• Nepal: [15]
• Russia: [16]
• Saudi Arabia: [17]
• United States: [18]
• (US) Puerto Rico: [19]