World Religion: Christianity – 30 Percent of the World Population
Anjum Bin Anam –
Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with around 30 percent of the global population identifying as Christian. The faith is divided into several major branches, and also several smaller Christian denominations and sects. This article will provide a brief introduction to these different branches of Christianity and their key beliefs.
The term “Christian” is derived from the Greek word “Christos”, which translates to “anointed”. According to the majority of Christians, Jesus is the son of God and holds equal status as God. He is also referred to as Hazrat Isha in Islam. Christianity is considered an Abrahamic religion and is primarily divided into 3 main sects – Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodox Christianity.
A central belief among Christians is the concept of the Trinity, which posits that God exists in 3 forms – the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Many Christians believe that these 3 forms are distinct, yet coexist as one entity.
The main distinctions between the 3 main branches of Christianity include the role of the Pope, the position of Mary, and variations in religious practices. Additionally, there are differences in their rules regarding divorce and differing views on the consumption of pork, alcohol, and circumcision.
Christians also perform a ritual called ‘Baptism’, similar to the ‘Aqeeqah’ of Muslims, for newborn babies. Some Christians believe that the body of Jesus became the bread and his blood became wine after his death and consider these elements to be sacred. It is worth mentioning that there is a small group of Christians who do not believe in the Trinity.
According to the belief of most Christians, Jesus was resurrected on the 3rd day after his death, which is commemorated as Easter Sunday. This event is said to have occurred on a Friday, the day of his crucifixion. Many Christians also believe that Jesus will return in a divine form before the end times, commonly referred to as ‘Armageddon’.
A fundamental belief among Christians is that Jesus sacrificed himself as an atonement for the sins of humanity. The Vatican is considered the holiest site for Catholics. Christianity is primarily monotheistic, worshipping one God, and Sunday is typically observed as a day of worship, commonly referred to as the Lord’s Day.
Blue and red are considered sacred colors among Christians and the cross symbol is often viewed as holy. The place of worship for Christians is referred to as a ‘church’.
Festivals:
Easter Sunday is one of the most significant holidays for Christians, second only to Christmas. Another notable holiday for Christians is Halloween, which is also known as All Saints Day. These holidays are considered important and have a significant role in the Christian tradition.
Holy Book:
The Bible is the holy scripture of Christianity and is divided into 2 parts – The Old Testament (written in Hebrew) and The New Testament (written in Greek). Among the New Testament, the Gospels of Luke, John, Mark, and Matthew are considered to be of particular importance, similar to the Hadith in Islam. The canon law, which is a set of rules and regulations that govern the life and conduct of Christians, is considered to be equivalent to the Shariah law in Islam.
Divisions of Christian Beliefs:
Catholic (50 percent of the Christian Population)
Core Beliefs:
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Mary (the mother of Jesus) is great.
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“Pope” means a very divine title.
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The use of religious rites is prescribed by the Pope.
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Variability and changes only can be decided by the Pope.
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Clergy (Called Padre) must be male, but they cannot marry or have sex.
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Basic Beliefs: Bible and Culture
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Worship is compulsory in the Church, but the Pope’s land, the Vatican, is the holiest place.
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Follows the Gregorian Calendar for religious purposes.
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They symbolize the corpse of Jesus on the Cross as a Holy one.
Majority Countries:
Portugal, Spain, Catalonia, France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Lithuania, Ireland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Belgium, the Philippines, Mexico, and the entire continent of South America.
Protestants (38 percent of the Christian Population)
Core Beliefs:
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Mary (the mother of Jesus) is a simple woman.
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No faith in the Pope.
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The use of religious rites is a bit of formality or distinction.
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Variability and reformation are decided based on present society and generation according to human needs.
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Priests are better if they are men. There is no prohibition on marriage or sexual intercourse.
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The Bible is the only foundational belief.
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Attending Church is a formality.
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They symbolize the resurrected Jesus on the Cross as the Holy one.
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Follows the Gregorian Calendar for religious purposes.
Majority Countries:
Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the South African continent
Orthodox (12 percent of the Christian Population)
Core Beliefs:
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Mary (the mother of Jesus) is great and divine.
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The Pope has a special honorary title, but he is not divine.
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Religious rituals are strictly adhered to.
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Does not believe in ritual changes.
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Priests must be male, but they may marry or have sexual relations before getting the priest position, but not after.
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The Bible and the rules established by various holy men (saints) contain fundamental beliefs.
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In church, worship is required.
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Follows Julian Calendar for religious purposes, which is 13 days behind than Gregorian Calendar. That is why they celebrate every festival 13 days later than other Christian denominations.
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They use a different type of Cross symbol as holy.
Majority Countries:
Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Armenia, Georgia, Montenegro, Herzegovina, Rushyn, Serbia, Macedonia, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia
Minor Groups that Do Not Believe in the Trinity:
Latter-Day Saints (Mormon):
Latter-Day Saints, also known as Mormons, believe that God is the father of Jesus and that Jesus is a human being, they do not believe in the Holy Spirit as a separate entity. They are the only Christian denominations that practice polygamy instead of monogamy.
Jehovah’s Witnesses:
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that God is one and is the Father, the human Son Jesus and that the invisible power is God’s power, not a separate entity.
Oneness Pentecostal:
Oneness Pentecostals also believe in one God that sometimes exists as the Father, sometimes as the Son, and sometimes as an invisible force. Some Methodists believe in plurality, they consider the Father, the Son, Mary, and the Holy Spirit as separate divine beings but all coming from one source.
Unitarian Christians:
Unitarian Christians believe that God is composed of the Father, the Son, and the Invisible Power, they don’t consider them as the original God but as the three parts of one God.
