Christianity: Global Religion

In Renaissance: The Power of the Gospel However Dark the Times, well-known evangelical Os Guinness claims that Christianity is the world's first truly global religion. He cites five facts in support of his thesis:

1. Jesus of Nazareth has the greatest number of followers of any religion on planet Earth.

2. The church is the most diverse community on the earth.

3. The Bible is the most translated book in human history.

4. Churches are the most numerous social service agencies across the world.

5. In many parts of the world, the Christian faith is the fastest growing religion and is growing through conversion rather than simply through the birth rate.

Yale history professor Kenneth Scott Latourette said of Christianity, "More than any other power in history it has impelled men to fight suffering, whether that suffering has come from disease, war or natural disasters. It has built thousands of hospitals, inspired the emergence of nursing and medical professions, and furthered movements for public health and the relief and prevention of famine."