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Global Christianity

6,823 bytes added, 05:45, June 18, 2024
/* Christianity by continent */
[[File:Hong Kong Christians at Gateway Camp.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|[[Hong Kong]] Christians at Gateway Camp. In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were [[Western World]] Christians.<ref>[httphttps://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref><br /><br /><small>(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckln/4815046728/in/set-72157624550425162 Flickr], see [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]][[Christianity]] is the world's largest religion and it has seen tremendous growth over its 2000 -year history.<ref>[http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN INCREASE]</ref>  In terms of its geographic distribution, Christianity is the most globally diverse religion.<ref>*[https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/08/27/many-religions-heavily-concentrated-in-one-or-two-countries/ Many religions heavily concentrated in one or two countries]*[http://wwwgordonconwell.com/netcommunity/CSGCResources/ChristianityinitsGlobalContext.pdf Christianity in its global context]</ref> Christianity has recently seen explosive growth outside the [[Western World]].<ref>
*[http://pewforum.org/Christian/Faith-and-Conflict-The-Global-Rise-of-Christianity.aspx The global rise of Christianity - Pew Forum]
*[httphttps://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]
*[http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/The-stunning-growth-of-Christianity-in-China.aspx The stunning growth of Christianity in China]
*[http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-african-apostles-how-christianity-exploded-in-20th-century-africa/ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th century Africa]</ref> In 2000, there were twice as many non-Western Christians as Western Christians.<ref>[httphttps://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref> In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western Christians as there were [[Western World]] Christians.<ref>[httphttps://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref> There are now more non-Western missionaries than Western missionaries.<ref>[httphttps://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>See also: [[Growth of global desecularization#Global scope of indigenous evangelical Christianity evangelism|Global scope of indigenous evangelical Christianity evangelism]]
In 2011[[Phillip Jenkins]] published the book ''The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity''. [[Chuck Colson]], citing the work of Jenkins, writes:{{Cquote|As Penn State professor Philip Jenkins writes in ''American SpectatorThe Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity'' declared concerning research published , predictions like Huntingtons betray an ignorance of the explosive growth of Christianity outside of the West. For instance, in 1900, there were approximately 10 million Christians in Africa. By 2000, there were 360 million. By 2025, conservative estimates see that number rising to 633 million. Those same estimates put the number of Christians in Latin America in 2025 at 640 million and in Asia at 460 million. According to Jenkins, the percentage of the worlds population that is, at least by name, Christian will be roughly the same in 2050 as it was in 1900. By the middle of this century, there will be three billion Christians in the world -- one and a half times the number of Muslims. In fact, by 2050 there will be nearly as many Pentecostal Christians in the world as there are Muslims today.<ref>[http://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/how-christianity-is-growing-around-the-world How Christianity is Growing Around the World] by Chuck Colson</ref>}} According to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary's [[Center for the Study of Global Christianity]] (CSGC), which has made projections up until the year of 2050, the percentage of the global population that are [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Christians]]/[[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]] is expected to increase.<ref>[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/ockenga/research/documents/wct-1-2.pdf Global adherents of the major religions/worldviews], Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary'International Bulletin s Center for the Study of Missionary ResearchGlobal Christianity</ref> In 2012, the CSGC reported that every day there are 800 less [[atheism|atheists]] per day, 1,100 less non-religious ([[agnosticism|agnostic]]) people per day and 83,000 more people professing to be Christians per day.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/globally-worldviews-of-atheism-and-non.html Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents]</ref><ref>[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/StatusOfGlobalMission.pdf Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Status of Global Missions]</ref> In 2011, the ''American Spectator'' declared:{{cquote|The report estimates about 80,000 new [[Christianity|Christians]] every day, 79,000 new [[Islam|Muslims]] every day, and 300 fewer [[atheism|atheists]] every day. These atheists are presumably disproportionately represented in the [[Western World|West]], while religion is thriving in the Global South, where [[Charismatic movement|charismatic Christianity]] is exploding."<ref>[http://spectator.org/archives/2011/02/28/thriving-christianity Thriving Christianity]</ref>}} {{See also|Atheism vs. Christianity}} == Christianity by continent ==[[File:Watoto Childrens Choir picture.jpg|thumbnail|right|220px|Watoto Children's Choir from Kampala, [[Uganda]]. In recent years, Christianity has seen a rapid growth in Africa.<ref>[http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-african-apostles-how-christianity-exploded-in-20th-century-africa/ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa]</ref> <br /><br />In 2005, there were four times as many non-[[Western World]] Christians as there were Western World Christians.<ref>[https://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>]]''See also:'' [[Christianity by continent]] Below are articles on Christianiy in the six continents with major populations: *[[Christianity in Africa]]*[[Christianity in Asia]]*[[Christianity in Australia]]*[[Christianity in Europe]]*[[Christianity in North America]]*[[Christianity in South America]] == Growth of Christianity == ''See also:'' [[Growth of Christianity]] In March 2024, Frontier Partners International reported:{{Cquote|The [[Center for the Study of Global Christianity]] at [[Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary]] recently reported that global Christianity is experiencing remarkable growth, defying expectations and surpassing population rates. Contrary to the anticipated slowdown, the Christian population is projected to climb from over 2.52 billion to 2.63 billion, representing a 1.08 percent growth, and is expected to surpass 3 billion by 2050. Within Christianity, certain denominations are witnessing even more rapid expansion. Notably, [[Protestant]]s (1.63 percent), independents (1.96 percent), [[evangelicals]] (1.66 percent), and [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]]/[[Charismatic movement|charismatics]] (1.48 percent) are identified as the fastest-growing groups, showcasing the diverse nature of the faith’s evolution. The growth of Christianity is particularly pronounced in the global south, with Africa and Asia emerging as the fastest-growing regions. Africa, in particular, has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from having less than 10 million Christians at the turn of the 20th century to now being home to 734 million Christians, growing at a rate of 2.64 percent. By 2050, Africa is projected to host more Christians than Asia and Latin America combined. Intriguingly, the report indicates that Christianity is not only growing in numbers but is also expanding geographically. In 1900, 95 percent of the world’s Christians lived in predominantly Christian countries. However, the trend is shifting, with a decline of 0.17 percent between 2020 and 2024, indicating that more Christians are residing in diverse, non-Christian majority nations.<ref>[https://www.frontierpartners.org/global-christianity-surges Global Christianity surges beyond projections in 2024], LiCAS.news • Mar 15, 2024, Frontiers Patners Intertnational, 2024</ref>}}
== Implications of the explosive growth of global Christianity ==
''see also:'' [[Internet evangelism]] and [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]]
It is thought that given the increase in the availability of public's access to global communications that the more [[theology|theologically]] [[conservative]] non-Western Christianity could influence Western Christianity to move into more theologically [[conservative]] direction.<ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18774</ref> For example, non-Western [[Anglican]]s are exerting influence in the worldwide Anglican communion as far as the Anglican Communion's policy concerning [[homosexuality]].<ref>http://www.maravipost.com/malawi-politics/district/5751-bishop-mw-anglicans-totally-against-homosexuality.html</ref><ref>httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2156406/Anglican-church-schism-declared-over-homosexuality.html</ref> === Chinese Christians and plans for evangelism outside of China === Professor Fenggang Yang indicates:{{Cquote|One sign of the advancing state of Christianity in China is that it is reaching out to the larger world. Nine hundred Chinese pastors gathered in Hong Kong this fall for the Mission 2030 Conference. Their goal: To send out 20,000 missionaries from mainland China by 2030.<ref>[http://globalplus.thearda.com/globalplus-religion-in-china/ GlobalPlus: Religion in China] By Fenggang Yang</ref>}} *[https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2024/april-web-only/sean-cheng-testimony-asia-editor-internet-evangelist.html How a Chinese-Born Research Scientist Became a Daring Online Evangelist], Christianity Today, 2024
== See also ==
*[[American Christianity]]
*[[Internet evangelism]]
*[[Evangelical Christians]]
*[[Christian evangelism]]
*[[Evangelism]]
*[[Decline of atheism]]
*[[Atheist Population]]
*[[Atheism and health]]
*[[Infant baptism]]
*[[Essay: Water baptism cannot save, the Church cannot save, Born again by faith alone]]
== External links ==
*[http://factsandtrends.net/2015/03/11/7-encouraging-trends-in-global-christianity/ 7 encouraging trends in global Christianity]
*[http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/is-islam-really-the-second-fastest-growing-religion/?singlepage=true Is Islam Really the Second-Fastest Growing Religion?]
*[http://pewforum.org/Christian/Faith-and-Conflict-The-Global-Rise-of-Christianity.aspx Faith and Conflict: The Global Rise of Christianity] by Pew Research Center
*[httphttps://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Christianity taking over planet?]*[http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/is-islam-really-the-second-fastest-growing-religion/?singlepage=true Is Islam Really the Second-Fastest Growing Religion?]
*[http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/The-stunning-growth-of-Christianity-in-China.aspx The stunning growth of Christianity in China]
*[http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-african-apostles-how-christianity-exploded-in-20th-century-africa/ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa]
*[http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm 2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN INCREASE]
'''Internet evangelism:'''
'''Specific forms of Christianity which are growing in the world and in the United States and the UK:'''  Global Christianity, Charismatic Christianity and Pentecostalism: *[http://www.internetevangelismdayctlibrary.com/ Internet evangelismct/1998/november16/8td28a.html Growth of Pentecostalism]*[http://www.globalmediaoutreachchristianpost.com/about_us.html Global Media Outreach evangelism statistics] news/pew- internet evangelism statistics for study-pentecostal-growth-in-asia-controversial-24416/ Pentecostalism and Asia]*[[Global Media Outreach]http://www.ocrpl.org/?p=151 Why the growth of Pentecostalism is an under-reported storyUnited States: *[http://theundergroundsitewww.christianity.com/index1333899/print/ A New Exodus: Americans are leaving liberal churches]*[http://questionevolution.phpblogspot.com/20102012/0803/christianquestion-organizationsevolution-joincampaign-forcesis-to-train-disabled-for-internet-evangelism-13255 Christian organizations join forces to train disabled for Internet evangelismreaching.html Religious conservatism growth in the USA and the turning point of 2020]
VideoUK:
*[http://wwwquestionevolution.youtubeblogspot.com/watch?v=EVnZAzG53Ok Internet evangelism] 2012/03/biblical- [[YouTube]christianity-is-rising-in-uk.html Evangelical Christianity is growing in the UK and challenging liberal forms of Anglicanism in the UK] video
== Notes ==
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[[Category: Christianity]]