Of the world’s population of 7.8 billion, Christianity is the most widely practised religion in the world, with more than 2 billion followers. Next in popularity are 1.5 billion followers of Islam and 900 million Hindu. There are many beliefs that Christians have in common. There are however, not unsurprisingly, also many differences in the more than 21,000 Christian denominations.
Beliefs held in common by Christians
While Christianity started with a small group of adherents, many historians regard the spread and adoption of Christianity throughout the world as one of the most successful spiritual missions in human history.
Christians believe in the Trinity, Jesus Christ, and the Church
The beliefs that (broadly) Christian denominations share.
The Holy Bible is the sacred book of Christians and contains the word of God
The Holy Book of Christianity is the Bible. It is comprised of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Christians believe that the Old Testament is a shadow of Christ's coming. The New Testament records Christ's teachings, the establishment of the Church, and prophecies about the future.
The core of Christianity, no matter what particular sect or region of the world, dictates the fundamental beliefs of Jesus’ birth and crucifixion. They run consistently throughout the teachings of early Christians and the Gospel incorporates them as essential aspects of the Christian faith.
One of the primary practices of Catholics is the Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which bread and wine are physically transformed into the blood and body of Christ.
The history of how the Catholic clergy has been a large part of Catholicism
The Catholic clergy has been a part of Catholicism since the religion was founded. Priests, cardinals, and the pope are well known symbols that have served the community and God for centuries. They have influenced the Christian world for centuries.
Eastern Orthodoxy are one of the oldest religions in the world. There are around 270 million people that follow the Orthodox tradition. It’s followers live mainly in the Balkans, the Middle East, and former Soviet countries.
What do Eastern Orthodox Christians believe?
Orthodox Christians believe that they practice the true and original Christian faith.
There are approximately 1 billion Protestant adherents worldwide or about 37% of all Christians. A Protestant is an adherent of any Christian bodies that separated from the Church of Rome during the Reformation, or of any group descended from them.
What do Protestants believe?
Protestants believe in a union with God Almighty without the interjection of the middle man, i.e. the priest. While ministers are knowledgeable and blessed enough to help man interpret the Scripture, the relationship between God and man himself is holy and has no space for saints or any other intermediary.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mormon Christians
There are over 16 million Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints – often called the Mormon church.
What do members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe?
The primary beliefs of the LDS church are rooted in Mormonism, and the teachings of its founder, Joseph Smith. With the vast majority of Mormons belonging to the church, they follow the core tenets of the religion but reject some of its fringe components, such as polygamy.
The history of the LDS community and the split away from other denominations
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) split from other denominations of Christianity in the early 1800s. The LDS was founded on the basis as a restoration of the early Christian church.
The LDS believes in the subservience of women to men within the traditional patriarchal system. Women are to be the primary caregivers, dress moderately, and submit to her husband's authority as he is the "head of the family."
A collection of the Latter-day Saints' miscellaneous beliefs
The LDS community has beliefs and traditions that are different from other Christian denominations. Their beliefs apply to spirituality, the afterlife, family, health, and even clothing.
Amish are an American Protestant group with around 200,000 members.
What do the Amish believe?
The Amish are a Christian denomination that subscribes to the teachings of Jacob Ammann. The Amish intentionally live simple lifestyles, which is reflected in their lack of belief in individualism; the way they dress, prepare their meals, and refuse modern technology is based on their belief to serve God without temptation or pride.
The Amish have firm beliefs. They are pacifists who reject all forms of violence. They also believe in set gender roles; men are the spiritual leaders at home and in the church, women are the caregivers. Abortion is prohibited under all circumstances and there are strict ideas on what constitutes sin, such as homosexuality.
