Christianity: the World’s Number One Religion – The word “Christianity” is derived from the Greek word “Khristos” and means Christ – the anointed one. The religion is monotheistic (belief in a single God) and is based solely on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, as presented in The New Testament.

In its earliest manifestations, Christianity was a Jewish sect, an integral part of Judaism. In fact, the modern world (the world in which we all currently reside) always couple and link Christianity and Judaism for their shared principles. It is always said, of course, that the United States is a nation founded on “Judeo-Christian principles.”

Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God and that he is the Savior of all Humanity, a Messiah who, one day, will rise from the dead to return to earth for the sole purpose of saving all mankind. Christians also believe that Jesus, when living more than 2,000 years ago, died (for the sins of all mankind) on the cross as a result of crucifixion.

As the physical incarnation of God, Jesus’ message has always been referred to as “The Gospel.” The literal meaning of this is “good news.” And that is the real message of Christianity. Christians believe in a better tomorrow and live and thrive on hope.

From the very beginning, Christianity found legions of devoted followers who believed in the message imparted by Jesus. By the 4th century A.D. (just a few hundred years after Jesus walked the earth), Christianity had already become the dominant religion of the Roman Empire.

During the middle Ages, Christianity found countless converts in every country in Europe and even found devoted followers in the Middle East and on the Asian sub-continent in India.

Today, Christianity is the world’s most dominant religion and exists in many different manifestations. In the United States, there are such Christian sects as Protestants … Episcopalians … Catholics …Lutherans … Baptists … and many more. Each sect practices a specific type of Christianity, but in the final analysis, all of the sects are Christian.

How dominant is Christianity in today’s world? It is estimated that between 1.5 billion and 2.2 billion people are strict adherents. That means that Christians (the faithful) make up from one-quarter to one-third of the world’s population. Christianity is now more than 2,000 years old and still going very strong. In fact, the need that people have to believe in an all-powerful deity has probably never been stronger.

Christianity fills that need. Clearly, it is one of the world’s great religions. And there is every reason to believe that it will remain a great religion for countless generations to come. Its popularity is not waning. Indeed, it draws more converts each year, from the previously unfaithful and from those who have chosen to switch or change religions.

Christianity’s message is one of non-violence, of love and peace for all and of a benevolent and understanding God. It is why so many people prefer to call themselves Christians.