Christianity

Christianity
Links: Pages on Christianity, Other Religions
God(s)	Atheist / Monotheist / Polytheist / Other
Adherent	Christian
Adherents	Christians
Texts	The Bible
Afterlife	Heaven or hell
Founding
Heritage	Judaism1 and paganism2
Area of Origin	Roman Empire
When	1st-3rd centuryCE
Founder	By multiple Greek writers, including St Paul
Christians in the World: 29% (2020)3
Timor-Leste (East Timor) (100%), Moldova (100%), Papua New Guinea (99%), Micronesia (99%), Romania (99%), Zambia (98%), Tonga (98%), Samoa (98%), Bahamas (98%), Kiribati (98%) 3

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Jesus and the stories of the Hebrew Scriptures, as preserved in the Bible. Christianity is counted as one of the great world religions_4,5,6.

1. Main Pages on Christianity
   1. Moral Issues
   2. Sexuality, Gender and Family
   3. Universalism
   4. Jesus
   5. United Kingdom
   6. Other Pages
2. Numbers of Christians Around the World, by Country
3. Calendar (2025)
4. Denominations
5. Links

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1. Main Pages on Christianity

Mirrored or copied files:

• YAHWEH - God of the Hebrews, the formation, through Moses, of the single God concept that launched Judaism and ultimately Christianity.

Minor pages:

• Response to the AI proof of God and a Self Esteem Theodicy by Bill Edelen

2. Numbers of Christians Around the World, by Country

#religion

Pos.		Pew Forum (2020)3	Pew Forum (2010)3	Worldmapper (2005)7
1	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	99.5%	99.4%	84.2%
2	Moldova	99.5%	97.9%	71.5%
3	Papua New Guinea	99.1%	99.5%	94.8%
4	Micronesia	98.8%	98.8%	93.2%
5	Romania	98.5%	99.3%	95.8%
6	Zambia	98.3%	97.7%	83.7%
7	Tonga	97.8%	97.8%	92.7%
8	Samoa	97.6%	98.6%	96.4%
9	Bahamas	97.6%	97.5%	92.0%
10	Kiribati	97.6%	97.3%	94.3%
11	Lesotho	97.3%	97.3%	91.7%
12	Armenia	97.3%	97.5%	83.4%
13	Rwanda	97.0%	96.9%	78.1%
14	Congo, DR	96.3%	96.5%	95.4%
15	Martinique	96.0%	96.4%
16	Guadeloupe	95.9%	95.8%
17	Solomon Islands	95.0%	95.3%	95.2%
18	Burundi	95.0%	95.4%	92.1%
19	Peru	94.5%	93.9%	96.4%
20	US Virgin Islands	94.5%	94.8%
21	Guam	94.0%	94.2%
22	Seychelles	94.0%	94.0%	96.5%
23	Paraguay	93.5%	96.8%	95.5%
24	French Polynesia	93.4%	93.5%
25	Swaziland	93.2%	93.1%	87.6%
26	Angola	93.0%	91.6%	94.1%
27	Congo, (Brazzaville)	92.2%	91.8%	89.8%
28	Lithuania	92.2%	92.5%	88.0%
29	Guatemala	92.0%	93.0%	97.4%
30	St Lucia	91.7%	91.5%	95.9%
31	Serbia	91.5%	95.5%	66.6%
32	Philippines	91.5%	91.8%	89.3%
33	Poland	91.2%	97.3%	96.0%
34	Panama	91.2%	93.1%	87.2%
35	Croatia	90.9%	93.7%	91.4%
36	Central African Rep.	90.7%	89.8%	65.6%
37	Curaço	90.6%	90.7%
38	Namibia	90.5%	96.1%	90.9%
39	Greece	89.5%	91.2%	92.3%
40	Mexico	89.2%	95.0%	95.9%
	World Avg	28.8%	30.6%
q=201.

In just ten years, from 2010 to 2020, twelve countries saw over 10% of their population stop describing themselves as Christian: Australia (-20%), Chile (-18%), Uruguay (-17%), the USA (-14%), Canada (-14%), the UK (-13%), Austria (-12%), Sweden (-12%), Switzerland (-12%), Ireland (-11%), France (-11%) and Belgium (-10%), with Finland and Spain close behind. The largest increase in Christianity in a country in that period was in Mozambique (+5.0%).

The population of 129 countries are substantially Christian (2020)₈ - meaning 40% or more of the population self-identify as such. Comparing them to the rest of the world:

When it comes to gross national income per-capita, Christian countries are of average wealth compared to the global average, scoring $19 974 compared to $20 136₉.

On overall responsibility towards the environment, Christian countries are close to the global average, ranking 81.50 compared to 84.93, calculated from 21 datasets on the Social and Moral Development Index. See: Countries With the Best Environmental Records.

On overall health, Christian countries are close to the global average, ranking 98.29 compared to 96.49₁₀, on average across 27 datasets on the Social and Moral Development Index. See: Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies. Specifically:

• When it comes to life expectancy, Christian countries are close to the global average, scoring 71.08 compared to 71.28₉. See: Life Expectancy and Longevity.

• When it comes to fertility rate, Christian countries are similar to the global average, scoring 2.42 compared to 2.47₁₁. See: The Population of the Earth.

On overall human rights, equality & tolerance, Christian countries are better than the global average, ranking 74.58 compared to 86.55₁₂, on average across 21 datasets on the Social and Moral Development Index. See: Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?. Specifically:

• On gender inequality, Christian countries are close to the global average, scoring 0.32 compared to 0.34₁₃. See: Religion Versus Womankind.

• On LGBT equality, Christian countries are better than the global average, scoring 23.9 compared to 12.6₁₄. See: LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?.

3. Calendar (2025)

#religious_calendars

Date	Event	Notes
Jan 1st Wednesday (fixed)	The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ	Catholics have started celebrating this on the 3rd of Jan.
Jan 6th Monday (fixed)	Theophany / Baptism of Jesus Christ	(Orthodox). By John the Baptist.
Jan 6th Monday (fixed)	The Epiphany	(Anglican & Roman Catholic). In some countries, celebrated on the first Sunday after Jan 1st. The magi visit baby Jesus bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh
Jan 7th Tuesday (fixed)	Christmas Day	(Orthodox, Rastafarian). Historically developed from: Q4 Solstice (Yuletide)
Jan 12th Sunday (always on a Sun)	The Baptism of Jesus	(Roman Catholic). The Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany By John the Baptist.
Jan 18th Saturday (7 days) (fixed)	Week of Prayer for Christian Unity	In the global south, celebrated between Ascension Day and Pentecost.
Jan 19th Sunday (fixed)	The Epiphany	(Orthodox). For the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, according to the Orthodox Julian calendar.
Jan 30th Thursday (fixed)	The Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs	Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom. Celebrated together to end a long period of disruptive competition between growing sects of followers of each one individually in 11th-12th century.
Feb 2nd Sunday (fixed)	The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple / Candlemas
Mar 1st Saturday (fixed)	St David's Day	in the UK (Wales). A day declared to be the anniversary of St David's death.
Mar 4th Tuesday (always on a Tue)	Shrove Tuesday	(Western Churches). Although it relates to absolution from sin, this day was pinned to an ancient day of feasting and consumption.
Mar 5th Wednesday (always on a Wed)	First day of Lent / Ash Wednesday	(Western churches). The first day of lent, enacted as Ash Wednesday in Catholic and some Anglican churches.
Mar 7th Friday (always on a Fri)	Christian Women's World Day of Prayer	in Suriname.
Mar 9th Sunday (fixed)	The Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Mar 17th Monday (fixed)	St Patrick's Day	in the UK. Almost completely secular, but celebrated by Christians as the mythologized day a saint went from Britain to Ireland to convert them to Christianity.
Mar 21st Friday (fixed)	St Joseph's Day	Honouring Joseph, Jesus' father.
Mar 25th Tuesday (fixed)	Annunciation of the Theotokos	The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her she will have God's son.
Apr 13th Sunday (always on a Sun)	Palm Sunday	(Orthodox). Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey.
Apr 13th Sunday (7 days)	Holy Week	(Western Churches). Marking the week of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Apr 13th Sunday (always on a Sun)	Passion Sunday / Palm Sunday	(Western Churches). The first day of Christian Holy Week.
Apr 17th Thursday (always on a Thu)	Maundy Thursday	(Western Churches). For the Last Supper.
Apr 18th Friday (always on a Fri)	Good Friday	(Western Churches). About the crucifixion of Jesus.
Apr 19th Saturday (always on a Sat)	Holy Saturday	(Western Churches). The last day of Lent.
Apr 20th Sunday	Easter Day	(Western churches). For the resurrection of Jesus.
Apr 20th Sunday	Easter Day (Julian)	(Orthodox & Rastafarian). For the resurrection of Jesus.
Apr 23rd Wednesday (fixed)	St George's Day	in the UK. Patron Saint of England.
May 21st Wednesday (fixed)	The Feast of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen	(Orthodox, most Anglican, Lutheran). There are lots of variations on dates for these days, depending on location & denomination.
May 30th Friday	Ascension Day	(Orthodox churches). 40th day after Easter.
May 30th Friday	Ascension Day	(Western Churches). 40th day after Easter. Jesus' resurrection on the 3rd day saw him float up into heaven.
Jun 8th Sunday (always on a Sun)	Whit Sunday	(Western churches). 49th day after Easter.
Jun 8th Sunday (always on a Sun)	Trinity Sunday	(Orthodox Churches). About the mystery of God and how to make sense of the Trinity.
Jun 9th Monday (always on a Sun)	Pentecost	(Western Churches). 50th day after Easter.
Jun 19th Thursday (fixed)	New Church Day	(Swenborgian). Celebration of the principal text that codified the Swenborgian movement.
Jun 24th Tuesday (fixed)	The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Jun 29th Sunday (fixed)	The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Jul 20th Sunday (fixed)	The Feast of Saint Elijah the Prophet	(Western Churches).
Jul 24th Thursday (fixed)	The Feast of Saint Christina of Bolsena the Great Martyr
Jul 26th Saturday (fixed)	The Feast of the Conception of Mary by Saints Joachim and Anne
Aug 6th Wednesday (fixed)	Transfiguration of Jesus	(Western).
Aug 6th Wednesday (fixed)	Transfiguration of Jesus	Jesus clothes became dazzling white and his face changed, and he talks to spirits of Moses and Elijah.
Aug 15th Friday (fixed)	Dormition of the Theotokos / Assumption of Mary	(Orthodox).
Aug 29th Friday (fixed)	The Beheading of St. John the Baptist	(Western churches).
Sep 8th Monday (fixed)	Nativity of the Theotokos	Birth of Mary, Mother of Jese.
Sep 11th Thursday (fixed)	The Beheading of St. John the Baptist	(Orthodox churches).
Sep 14th Sunday (fixed)	Elevation of the Cross	One of the feasts of the cross.
Sep 29th Monday (fixed)	The Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel	(Western Churches). In Catholicism, is the feast of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael and in Anglican Churches is the 'Feast of All Angels'.
Oct 1st Wednesday (fixed)	The Protection of the Mother of God	(Russian Orthodox).
Oct 1st Wednesday (fixed)	Christian Harvest Festival	Harvests are laid out in church.
Oct 23rd Thursday (fixed)	The Feast of Saint James the Just
Oct 26th Sunday (fixed)	The Feast of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki
Nov 1st Saturday (fixed)	All Saints' Day	For all the Saints that don't have their own day.
Nov 2nd Sunday (fixed)	All Souls' Day	For remembering the dead.
Nov 8th Saturday (fixed)	The Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel	(Orthodox Churches). In Catholicism, is the feast of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael and in Anglican Churches is the 'Feast of All Angels'.
Nov 21st Friday (fixed)	Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple / Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Dec 6th Saturday (fixed)	The Feast of Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra in Lycia	(Western Churches).
Dec 8th Monday (fixed)	Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary	(Catholic). The annual declaration by Catholics that Jesus' mother was herself born free from Original Sin.
Dec 14th Sunday (always on a Sun)	Advent Sunday	(Western churches). Four Sundays before Christmas. Candles are lit each Sunday for the end of the period of the sun's weakness. Historically developed from: Q4 Solstice (Yuletide)
Dec 14th Sunday (fixed)	The Feast of Saint Spiridon	(Western Churches).
Dec 19th Friday (fixed)	The Feast of Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra in Lycia	(Orthodox Churches).
Dec 25th Thursday (fixed)	Nativity / Christmas Day	Previously celebrated in spring, the birth of Jesus was moved in the 4th century to merge it with popular pagan celebrations on the 25th.
Dec 26th Friday (fixed)	The Feast of Saint Stephen the Deacon

4. Denominations

#albigenses #amish #anglicanism #anthrocentrism #arianism #astronomy #australia #baptist #belgium #branch_davidians #bulgaria #calvinism #cathars #catholic_persecution #catholicism #christadelphians #christian_apostolic_church_in_zion #christian_scientists #christianity #christianity_historical #christianity_history #christianity_types #concerned_christians #copernicus #crusades #czechia #dami_xuanjiao #docetism #earth #ebionites #france #galileo #germany #gravity #greece #historical_christianity #history #hookers_for_jesus #hungary #islam #israel #italy #jamaica #jehovah's_witnesses #jospeh_smith #judaism #kepler #laplace #lithuania #lutheranism #marcionites #mennonite #methodism #moravians_(unitas_fratrum) #mormonism #nasorean_mandaeans #nasorean_mandaeans_(sabians) #netherlands #new_church #newton #order_of_the_solar_temple #palestine #pentecostalism #people's_temple #physics #plymouth_brethren #poland #protestantism #ptolemy #rastafarian #religion #salvation_army #science #south_korea #sweden #swenborgian #switzerland #the_albigenses #the_cathars #the_family_of_god #UK #unification_church #unitarianism #USA #vegetarian #waldenses

For more, see:

• "A List of Christian Denominations and Sects" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

'Christianity' is not a single religion dating from 2,000 years ago. A long series of varied different religions, flowing on from one another, have all called themselves "Christian". Rightly so. The beliefs and form have changed so much from time to time that it is best to consider the word "Christianity" an umbrella term for multiple faiths all of which have the same name but different beliefs. Some historical forms of Christianity have made more sense, and some have made less sense, than the Christian mythology that is common today. Modern archaeology has uncovered many of these early forms of Christianity, and no longer can we say that modern-day Christianity in its various forms represents early Christianity. It hardly does. Christianity now is quite varied, but in history the varieties were much more exotic.

For more, see:

• "Historical Christianity: Who Were the First Christians?" by Vexen Crabtree (2003).

Use the title link for full descriptions; here they are in brief:

• Nasorean Mandaeans (Sabians) [Link]. Founded in Judea (Palestine) in the 1st century BCE/very early CE by John the Baptist. Pacifists who hold that baptism is the most meaningful ritual, and that Jesus wasn't the one foretold by John the Baptist. The Nasoreans were founded in the 1st century BCE as followers of John the Baptist, speaking Aramaic. They are often called Mandaeans by scholars (which in Aramaic means 'Gnostics')₁₅. In Muslim countries, they are called Sabians, where they have been heavily and violently persecuted₁₆. The largest communities are 10,000 - 20,000 in Sweden and about half that in Australia. They are pacifists₁₆, emphasize baptism as the most meaningful ritual, hold that John the Baptist remains the last true prophet and that their religion stems directly from that of Adam and Noah. They were never convinced in the 1st century by early Christians that Jesus was a replacement for John the Baptist. The earliest Gospel texts support the Nasorean view.₁₇

• Ebionites [Link]. Founded in Judea (now Israel) in the 1st century. Possibly the earliest form of Christianity to exist. The Ebionites were some of the original Christians: Jews who believed that Jesus was the Messiah. They populated the legendary Jerusalem Church. The term 'Ebionite' was sometimes used to describe all Christians₁₈. Ebionite Christians believed that all the Jewish Laws had to be obeyed; including the Sabbath and circumcision for all males. They considered St Paul to be the archenemy of Christianity as he taught that people did not have to obey the Law in order to be saved. They believed Jesus was Human, and was adopted by God as a perfect sacrifice.

  The rise of Pauline Christianity led to the persecution of the Ebionites. Authors such as Tertullian, Origen of Alexandria, and many other intolerant "heresy-hunters" wrote at great length against the Ebionites, making untrue and exaggerated claims. Pauline and Trinitarian Christians burned Ebionite books - none survived - and they were harassed and arrested until none were left. They edited Luke 2:33 and Luke 2:48 where Joseph was twice called the 'father' of Jesus so that it did not say so, and they also edited Luke 3:22 where it plainly stated, in accordance with Ebionite beliefs, that God adopted Jesus. Pauline Christians, as non-Jewish Romans, handily came across a mistranslated prophecy that said Jesus would be born of a virgin (like other Roman sons-of-gods), adding a whole two chapters to the beginning of Matthew to prove their point. These edits, when they were uncovered, have shown that the Ebionites were treated very cruelly and unfairly, and that the original readings of Matthew and Luke both support Ebionite Christianity, rather than the Pauline Christianity that the West has inherited.

  It is a sad fact of history that it is more likely that the Ebionites were the more correct form of Christianity than the Pauline Christians who slaughtered, slandered and oppressed them. Unfortunately the victors get to write history, and it is Pauline Christianity that became the legacy of the Roman Empire. After the fourth century, the Ebionites were vanquished.

• Docetism [Link]. In the history of Christianity there have been many ways to resolve the contradictions between Jesus being God, and Jesus being divine. In the centuries before the concept of the Trinity was invented, docetism was one belief professed by the very first Christians. It is the idea that Jesus was divine, but that to interact with the corrupt world was given the appearance of Humanity_19,20. A lot of scripture supports this view. St Paul wrote that the Son came "in the likeness of flesh" (Romans 8:3). Joseph didn't impregnate Mary because Jesus didn't come from any physical seed. The reason Jesus didn't write anything himself or baptise anyone (John 4:1-2) is because he was a phantasm and could not. The evidence is that docetist Gospel of Peter was more widely read by the first Christians than Mark's₂₁. Despite their early popularity, after the rise of Cappadocian and Pauline Christianity the docetists were forcibly silenced and mostly eradicated₂₂.

• Marcionites [Link]. Founded in Rome in 144CE by Marcion. The Old Testament God is evil, but the NT god is good. Marcionite Christians believed that the God of the Old Testament (wrathful and angry) was a different God to the New Testament's mystical and forgiving one. Their reasoning was sensible and their knowledge of Christian texts of the time was the most involved. Marcionism was successful, for hundreds of years some places knew only of Marcionite Christianity. Their collection of Christian texts into a codified canon was the first of its kind, and formed the template for what was to become the Bible. Pauline-Cappadocian Christians were more aggressive, and became overwhelmingly powerful when they gained Roman support, eradicating the Marcionites.₂₃

• Arianism [Link]. Founded in the 3rd century. 0In 3rd century as Jesus became considered more than a man, the concept of the Trinity hadn't been created: Jesus was a special human, but not actually divine (otherwise, he couldn't have suffered).

  What Was Christian Adoptionism?

  Arianism describes the pre-trinitarian doctrine of a holy, but not a godly, Jesus. It is not always adoptionism and not always monotheistic, either. It was defined by a negative principal (that logically Jesus can't be God and still suffer on the cross). If Jesus was God (i.e., perfect), Arians realized, what chance would any Human have of imitating him? Although Arian-sounding theologies existed from the second century onwards, it only became a wide point of contention after the third century. In the third century Origen of Alexandria, the greatest theologian of his time, had declared that the Father was Greater than the Son₂₄. This principal was later named after its principal proponent and most articulate defender, Arius (256-336CE). It was opposed by Athanasius, who became a Nicene Christian from 325CE. Because of its popularity and its clear non-trinitarian view of Jesus, trinitarian Christians such as the Nicenes/Cappadocians have considered Arianism to be highly dangerous₂₅. In the Roman Empire, Arian Christianity was supplanted by intolerant Nicene Christianity by the 5th century, but remained the most popular form of Christianity amongst the tribes surrounding the empire, until the 8th century.

• Catholicism. Founded in Roman Empire in the 4th century. The form of Christianity backed by Roman power from the 4th century, it violently displaced the original forms of Christianity.

• Cathars / Albigenses [Link]. Founded in Germany and France in the 12th century. The world is ruled by evil Satan, Christians must escape. The Cathars (12th-15th century Christians) were noted first in Germany₂₆, becoming popular in northern Italy and Belgium. In southern France they were called Albigenses and made up the vast majority of the population._26,27,28. They were remnants of the oppressed Bogomils of Bulgaria, who had represented a fusion of the Paulicians and the 2nd-century Manicheans, some of the earliest Christians, who were otherwise wiped out.

  They considered earthly life to be the domain of satan, with the wicked being resurrected as animals and the virtuous being saved_26,27. They were vegetarian, and abstained from all sex₂₇. They opposed wickedness and power, and were particularly outspoken against the shocking abuses of power of the Catholic Church of the time_27,29; so much so that 'moral disgust at the wealth and wickedness of the clergy' became the biggest cause of the success of the Cathars.₂₇

  The Catholic Church responded by persecuting and harassing the Cathars "on a horrific scale"₂₈. In 1209 the Pope Innocent III pronounced a Crusade against them which saw 200,000 Catholics over 20 years lay waste to some large parts of France, slaughtering some entire towns₂₈. This was followed by the intense interest of The Inquisition, who spent another 200 years crushing them._26,28,29

• Waldenses [Link]. Founded in Lyon, France in 1170CE by Peter Waldo. Devoted to giving wealth to the poor and following Christ's lived examples. Peter Waldo was a rich merchant who lived Lyons, France. In 1170CE he declared a movement for the return to the observance of the law of Christ. He gave everything he had to the poor and founded the 'Poor men of Lyons', encouraging others to do the same₃₀. In an era where the corruption and power of the Church affected everyone, this ascetic, humble and powerless Bible-based movement adhered strictly to virtuous and moral codes of conduct. They wanted to practice Catholicism but without all the additions and complications₃₁. Their message was sorely needed, and they rapidly grew through the south of France, Lombardy, and extended to Germany and Italy in the decades after the death of Waldo₃₂. They inspired the creation of the Franciscan order of monks₃₁.

  Pope Alexander III had given the Waldenses papal approval to preach "but they inveighed somewhat too forcibly against the immorality of the clergy, and were condemned by the Council of Verona in 1184"₃₃ and were excommunicated₃₂. They did not falter. In 1209, the Pope instigated a Crusade against heresy, which wiped out large numbers of Albigenses and Waldenses in a series of massacres. They continued to face persecution by the Catholic Church until the 19th century_30,34. After the rise of Protestantism, they joined with the Calvinists and the Methodist Evangelical Church. Waldensians still exist in the Piedmont region of Italy₃₂.

• Moravians (Unitas Fratrum) [Link]. Founded in Bohemia (now Czech Republic) in 1457CE by Jan (John) Hus. Founded as they rejected the authority of the Pope in Rome, so, later became known as a Protestant denomination.

• Unitarianism. Founded in Poland, Lithuania, Hungary in the 16th century. A liberal and non-Trinitarian Christian church.

• Protestantism. Founded in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517CE by Martin Luther. In the sixteenth century, widespread rejection of the Roman Catholic Church's power-mongering and its horrendous social abuses led to the departure of a large portion of Christianity from it, in a protest movement simply called Protestantism. The Roman Catholic Church reacted violently, triggering a long series of religious wars₃₀.

• Calvinism. Founded in Switzerland in 1519CE by Huldrych Zwingli. A collection of early Protestant movements with more defined answers to several theological problems.

• Lutheranism. Founded in Germany in 1521CE by Martin Luther. Formed in order to make Christianity more Biblically-based.

• Baptist. Founded in UK or Europe in the 1525 or 17th century anabaptists or 17th Century English separatists. Baptism is only for consenting adults who have chosen it, and not to be forced on children.

• Anglicanism. Founded in UK in 1534CE by King Henry VIII. Created to reduce the amount of tax being sent to Rome and so that King Henry VIII could remarry.

• Mennonite [Link]. Founded in Netherlands in 1632CE by Menno Simons. A Protestant Christian denomination.

• Amish [Link]. Founded in Switzerland in 1693CE by Jakob Ammann and his followers split from the Anabaptists. Peaceful Christian fundamentalist group famous for its rejection of technology and strict adherence to OT and NT laws. The Amish are a peaceful Christian fundamentalist group famous for its rejection of technology and strict adherence to OT and NT laws. They are named after a 17th century Mennonite bishop, and "remain a very insular and conservative community of people who shun modern living styles"₃₀.

• Methodism. Founded in UK in the 18th century by John Wesley, George Whitefield and Charles Wesley. Split due to a rejection of predeterminism in favour of a free-will and faith-based theory of salvation.

• Swenborgian / New Church. Founded in Sweden in 1770CE by Emanuel Swedenborg. Scripture must be interpreted spiritually, not literally, and Baptism and the Last Supper are the two sacraments.

• Mormonism [Link]. Founded in USA in 1830₃₅ by Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith (1805-44) created Mormonism by phrasing the symbols, magical ideas and other elements from the occult scene of his own upbringing in terms of Christian history. In his Book of Mormon, he claims that tribes of Israelites migrated to the USA in the 6th century BCE and founded a successful civilisation, which lasted one thousand years and was visited by Jesus during his life._36,37. This historical myth-making is widely ridiculed on account of the genetic, archaeological and historical evidence against it₃₆.

  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are the largest Mormon denomination.

• Plymouth Brethren. Founded in UK in 1831CE. A fundamentalist sola-scripture (Bible alone) movement.

• Christadelphians. Founded in USA in the 1840s by Dr John Thomas. Bible-based Christianity.

• Salvation Army. Founded in UK in 1865CE by Methodist minister William Booth. Christian organisation of evangelists organised along military lines, famous for charity work.

• Jehovah's Witnesses [Link]. Founded in USA in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russell. A 140-year-old Christian fundamentalist/literalist organisation famous for preaching that the world is about to end (nowadays - because of the existence of the United Nations). The Jehovah's Witnesses are a growing Christian Church with some interesting beliefs, who retain the ability to change their beliefs (as they have done on their opposition to vaccinations). They are distinctive for their energetic, persistent yet friendly door-to-door evangelism. They are Biblical fundamentalists with strong anti-science views, world-rejecting ideas, and a long-lasting belief in the imminent end of the world as we know it. Their Church is highly centralized. They attract criticism on grounds of their totalitarianism, cultish behaviour, heavy indoctrination of their members by their internal society, their extremist sectarianism and intolerance of views they deem incorrect, and of their history of doctrine reversals. But their ability to change is a positive thing: an inability to change is widely held to be the greatest weakness of religion overall. They commendably proclaim some now-unfashionable Christian beliefs which have been forgotten or amended by nearly all modern Christian churches, such as a unitarian rather than a trinitarian god, and that the saved are carnally reincarnated as there is no eternal soul.

• Christian Scientists. Founded in USA in 1879CE by Mary Baker Eddy. Jesus didn't die, and, all illness is an illusion if only you believe it enough.

  “The main teaching of Christian Scientists is that all physical aspects of life, especially illness, are illusory and that all one requires to be rid of them is to understand this. They reject belief in Christ's death on the cross. Their founder was Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) whose book Science and Healing with a Key to the Scriptures is read alongside the Bible at meetings. There are about 3,000 Christian Science churches and organizations in more than 50 countries.”

  "Religions of the World" by Breuilly, O'Brien & Palmer (1997)₅₄

  They are not the only Christian branch to believe that Jesus survived; see Arguments That Jesus Survived the Crucifixion.

• Christian Apostolic Church in Zion [Link]. Founded in USA in 1895CE by John Alexander Dowie. Fundamentalist Anti-science flat-earth Christian cult, who also predicted the End of the World would occur 4 different times. Copernicus (1473-1543)_38,39, Kepler (1571-1630), Galileo (1564-1642)_40,41,42, Newton (1643-1727)₄₃ and Laplace (1749-1827)₄₄ all fought battles against the Church when they published scientific papers that enraged the Church by writing that the Earth might orbit the sun, rather than the idea that it sat at a central position in the Universe. These and other scientists suffered torture, imprisonment, forced recantations and death at the hands of Christians_42,45. The source of the Church's confidence was the Bible. Joshua 10:12-13, 2 Kings 20:11, Psalms 93:1, 104:5, Ecclesiastes 1:5, Isaiah 30:26, Isaiah 38:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and Habakkuk 3:10-11 all contradicted the astronomers. It was not until 1979 that the Vatican "officially concede[d] that the Earth revolved around the Sun, and not vica-versa"₄₁.

  Without interference from theists, science would have been a thousand years more advanced than it is now. Aristarchus of Samos taught that the earth moves, in the 3rd century BCE₃₈. But Greek astronomical knowledge was condemned and hidden by Christians (Ptolemy et al) in the second century. The Ionians discovered the truth about the Sun, the Earth and the stars₄₆, but their era ended when their last great scientist, Hypatia, was attacked by a mob of Christians and burnt in 415CE. The center of science, the Alexandrian Library, was also burnt and destroyed. Although the Church did eventually lose the battle against astronomy, it still went on to violently impose dogmatic errors in other arenas of knowledge, such as biology. Thankfully, today, most mainstream Christians accept scientific facts in many matters and Christian organisations have much reduced power to hinder research.

• Pentecostalism [Link]. Founded in USA in the 20th century by Charles Fox Parham. A fundamentalist Protestant 'Charismatic' movement with an emphasis on baptism and direct experiences of God, evidenced by 'talking in tongues'. Pentecostal Christianity is a division of Protestant Christianity stemming from the 20th century, influenced by Evangelical Christianity₄₇. There are 300-500 million Pentecostals worldwide, mostly in Latin America, Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific Oceania₄₈ (i.e, the "global South")₄₉. It is less focused on the Bible and more on personal zeal and emotion, and is popularist rather than doctrinal - i.e., it follows what its mass of believers want, rather than obsessing over minute biblical details - the spirit of the law, rather than the letter. The movement has self-help potential, and prohibits gambling, drugs and alcohol (but also prohibits dancing)₄₇ and emphasizes individual responsibilities in life₅₀. There is an emphasis on tithing, which suits its community leaders very well. Most new Pentecostal churches are popular amongst the poor and the displaced₄₇, and its messages are sometimes heavy on anti-intellectualism and anti-science. But with popularity comes greater influence, and over time these facets tend to soften as the churches become more "upwardly mobile". At that point, many poor members tend to become disillusioned and move on to other churches; perhaps back to their original ones.₄₇. Pentecostalism has a problem with gender equality: although in Latin American 2/3rds of its congregation is female, "formal leadership positions are monopolized by men"₅₁. Pentecostalism is home of the infamous "Prosperity Theology" movement, which has embraced the amassing of wealth as evidence of being in God's favour₅₂ and Hefner (2011) reports in an understated manner that "the expensive cars and clothing flaunted by some prosperity pastors disturb Catholics"₅₃. The church has developed problems and a long series of scandals has seen prominent Pentecostals mired in corruption, sexual intrigues, paedophilia, tax evasion and fraud.

• Rastafarian [Link]. Founded in Jamaica in the 1930s. God (called Jah) fathered a black Jesus; marijuana use in rituals.

• Branch Davidians [Link]. Founded in USA in 1930CE by Benjamin Roden. Apocalyptic suicide cult famed for its dramatic armed fight against authorities in the town of Waco, USA, in 1993.

• Unification Church [Link]. Founded in South Korea in 1954CE by Sun Myung Moon. Sun Myung Moon embodied the Second Coming of Christ, and his commercialist church runs a media empire. "Founded in 1954 by the Korean businessman Sun Myung Moon, known as the Reverend Moon to his followers, this church claims that God has constantly sought to create the perfect family but has been thwarted by Satan. The core book is Moon's The Divine Principle"₅₄.

• People's Temple [Link]. Founded in USA in the 1960s by Rev. James (Jim) Warren Jones. Apocalyptic suicide cult that imploded, resulting in the deaths of over 600 adults and 276 children.

• Hookers for Jesus / The Family of God [Link]. Founded in USA in 1968CE by David Berg. Sexually promiscuous group who fell foul of police suspicion. As is often the case, increasing pressure from outside resulted in the group retreating even further into insanity, and they became The Family, predicting the end of the world.

• Dami Xuanjiao [Link]. Founded in South Korea in the 1980s. A millenarian cult based on the belief that Jesus would return to judge survivors in 1999. Suspected of being on the verge of mass suicide after predictions of the end of the world failed in year 2000.

• Concerned Christians [Link]. Founded in USA in the 1980s by Monte Kim Miller. Fundamentalist Christians active in the USA, Israel and Greece, who expected the end of the world in year 2000, starting with a nuclear attack on the USA, which they appeared to be trying to instigate themselves.

• Order of the Solar Temple [Link]. Founded in France in 1984CE by Joseph Di Mambro & Luc Jouret. Apocalyptic suicide cult, with mass suicides in Switzerland, France and Quebec, in preparation for Jesus' second coming.

See: "A List of Christian Denominations and Sects" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).