adminChristianity is the world’s largest religion, with roughly 2.4 billion followers globally. Here’s a rundown of the key facts about its history, beliefs, and global reach.
Origins & History
- Christianity emerged from Judaism in 1st-century Judea, centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
- The religion spread through the Roman Empire largely through the missionary work of Paul the Apostle in the decades after Jesus’s death.
- For its first three centuries, Christianity was frequently persecuted within the Roman Empire.
- In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan granted Christians religious tolerance, changing the religion’s trajectory.
- The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD formalized core Christian doctrine, including the Nicene Creed still used in many churches today.
- The Great Schism of 1054 split the church into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches.
- The Protestant Reformation, beginning in 1517 with Martin Luther, produced the third major branch of Christianity.
Beliefs
- Most Christian denominations believe in the Trinity — God the Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit as three persons in one God.
- Central to Christian belief is Jesus’s death by crucifixion and his resurrection three days later.
- The Christian Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament, shared with Judaism, and the New Testament, which covers Jesus’s life and the early church.
- Most Christian traditions recognize sacraments — rituals like baptism and communion — though the exact number and meaning vary by denomination.
What Is a Christian?
A Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and believes in his death and resurrection as central to their faith. While specific beliefs vary widely across denominations, most Christians share a few core commitments: belief in one God as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), acceptance of the Bible as sacred scripture, and participation in practices like prayer, baptism, and communion. Being Christian is generally understood as both a belief system and an identity shaped by community, worship, and moral teaching drawn from Jesus’s example.
Denominations & Global Reach
- Christianity has three major branches: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant.
- Catholicism is the largest single branch, with over a billion adherents worldwide.
- Protestantism itself contains hundreds of distinct denominations, including Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Pentecostal traditions.
- Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in the world by total population, at roughly 31% of the global population.
- It’s the majority religion in Europe, the Americas, and Sub-Saharan Africa, and a significant minority faith across much of Asia.
Lesser-Known Facts
- December 25th wasn’t fixed as the date for celebrating Jesus’s birth until the 4th century — the Bible itself doesn’t specify a date.
- The Bible was not written in English. Its original texts were composed primarily in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, with English translations arriving over a thousand years later.
- Christianity is currently the fastest-growing religion in Sub-Saharan Africa, even as it declines in parts of Europe.
- The word “Christian” was first used as a label for Jesus’s followers in the city of Antioch, according to the Book of Acts — it wasn’t a term they originally used for themselves.
FAQs
What defines someone as a Christian?
A Christian is generally defined as someone who believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and follows his teachings, though the specific requirements and practices vary by denomination.
Is Christianity the largest religion in the world?
Yes. With approximately 2.4 billion adherents, Christianity is the world’s largest religion by total population, followed by Islam.
How many Christians are there today?
Current estimates put the global Christian population at roughly 2.4 billion people, or about 31% of the world’s population.
What are the three main branches of Christianity?
The three major branches are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. See our full guide to the branches of Christianity for how they differ.
For more on how the religion began, see our guide to who founded Christianity.
