Book of Kells, Chi Rho folio, c. 800 · public domain

Christianity

Tradition·Founded 30 CE·est. ~2.4 billion worldwide

Judaism → Christianity → 11 branches

Branch
Community of Christianity

The centre of gravity moved south.

Most Christians now live in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Nigeria has more practising Anglicans than England does, and the growth is Pentecostal and independent rather than denominational — which is why the doctrinal arguments in Western churches keep being decided by votes from the global South.

How you joinBirth, conversion, migration
Who leadsThe majority of Christians now live in Africa, Latin America and Asia; Nigeria has more Anglicans than England, and the fastest growth is Pentecostal and independent rather than denominational
The unitThe global church, counted by where people actually are
Understanding it — context, not catechism: how this passage is held

The map moved and most descriptions of Christianity have not caught up. A majority of the world's Christians now live in Africa, Latin America and Asia; sub-Saharan Africa alone is projected to hold roughly four in ten by mid-century. Nigeria has more Anglicans in church on a Sunday than England does, and the largest single congregations on earth are in Seoul, Lagos and São Paulo. The growth is overwhelmingly Pentecostal, charismatic and independent rather than denominational — African Initiated Churches answer to nobody in Europe — and it is accompanied by a theology of healing, deliverance and prosperity that Western churches find embarrassing and cannot argue with demographically. This is why votes in the Anglican Communion and, until its split, the United Methodist Church were decided by African delegations, and why Western liberal positions on sexuality keep losing globally while winning locally.

The same ground, other faiths

claims that share this one's ideas
Satsang — the singing evening. Hinduism · rite Go deeper →
The fourfold sangha. Buddhism Go deeper →
Micchami dukkadam. Jainism · rite Go deeper →
Argument, for the sake of heaven, is sacred. Judaism · core tenet Go deeper →
Jumu'ah — the Friday assembly. Islam · rite Go deeper →
The Sikh Rehat Maryada. Sikhism · scripture Open the book →

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