Christianity goes global as world’s largest religion
By Richard Allen Greene, CNN
(CNN) – Christians are by far the largest religious group on the planet, and the religion has gone truly global over the past century, according to a new report out Monday, which finds some of the world’s biggest Christian communities in surprising places.
Europe was the clear center of world Christianity one hundred years ago, but today the Americas are home to more than a third of all Christians. In fact, the United States has the world’s largest Christian population, of more than 247 million, followed by Brazil and Mexico.
And who are the big kahunas among Christians? You got it baby.
The report calculates that half the world’s Christians are Catholic, 37% are Protestants, and 12% are Orthodox. The remaining 1 percent belong to other traditions such as Mormonism.
Even among the number one religion, we’re number one. Why doesn’t it feel that way?
December 20, 2011 at 5:47 am
If it felt that way, we wouldn't be number one.
December 20, 2011 at 6:15 am
62% of Christans Believe in the Sacraments…
Its a good start but we could do better
Ut Unam Sint
December 20, 2011 at 3:38 pm
that all may be one…unity
December 20, 2011 at 6:31 pm
We won't truly be # 1 until all have heard The Word, and have had their opportunity to become part of the Whole.
December 20, 2011 at 8:00 pm
A few years ago the Vatican issued a statistic that there are more Muslims in the world than Catholics. Secondly, Mormons are not Christians because they do not believe in the Trinity or even the accepted definition of who Jesus is.
December 21, 2011 at 8:59 pm
If one reads polls on what Catholics or Christians believe on various topics, the tone becomes more sober. The numbers level is an illusory level. Pew research in 2010 found that between 42 and 46 percent of Catholics polled said they supported gay marriage…..that's with Romans chapter (from God thru Paul) clearly condemning the act per se for both genders. Fr. Andrew Greeley in a 2004 book on the priesthood said 16% of priests self identify as gay….chaste versus not chaste is unclear. Nor is support for other issues like abortion in such polls….anything to celebrate. Last night on tv, someone gave Mass attendance in Ireland as very low. I wish we'd avoid the numbers world.