What made Christianity spread so fast?
Ehrman attributes the rapid spread of Christianity to five factors: (1) the promise of salvation and eternal life for everyone was an attractive alternative to Roman religions; (2) stories of miracles and healings purportedly showed that the one Christian God was more powerful than the many Roman gods; (3) Christianity ...
Beginning with the son of a Jewish carpenter, the religion was spread around the world first by Jesus's disciples, then by emperors, kings, and missionaries. Through crusades, conquests, and simple word of mouth, Christianity has had a profound influence on the last 2,000 years of world history.
In its early centuries, Christianity achieved a phenomenal growth rate: it is estimated that it had hit roughly 30 million followers by AD350.
Through countless conflicts, conquests, missions abroad, and simple word of mouth, these religions spread around the globe and forever molded the huge geographic regions in their paths.
Christianity spread through the efforts of the twelve Apostles. The followers of Jesus Christ were called Apostles. Jesus had twelve Apostles when he was alive. These Apostles were given the responsibility of spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ and Christianity.
Christianity succeeded in large measure because it required potential converts to make a decision that was exclusive and final. If they chose to join the church, they had to abandon all previous religious commitments and associations.
Although Jesus had died, his message had not. Word of his teachings spread to Jewish communities across the empire. This was helped by energetic apostles, such as Paul and by the modern communications of the Roman Empire. Over 30 years, Paul clocked up around 10,000 miles, traveling across the Roman Empire.
Irish Missionaries
In this environment, Christianity spread from Roman Britain to Ireland, especially aided by the missionary activity of St. Patrick with his first-order of 'patrician clergy', active missionary priests accompanying or following him, typically Britons or Irish ordained by him and his successors.
Over the centuries, Christianity grew in numbers as it spread around the world, often through missionaries and colonizers. The second most widely practiced religion is Islam, with an estimated 1.8 billion followers worldwide.
After Jesus, the two most significant figures in Christianity are the apostles Peter and Paul/Saul. Paul, in particular, takes a leading role in spreading the teachings of Jesus to Gentiles (non Jews) in the Roman Empire.
What countries did Christianity spread to?
By the end of the first century, Christianity had already spread to Rome, Armenia, Greece and Syria, serving as foundations for the expansive spread of Christianity, eventually throughout the world.
| Religion | Distribution | percentage worldwide |
|---|---|---|
| Christianity | worldwide | 29.5 % |
| Islam | worldwide | 23.9 % |
| Hinduism | worldwide | 15.0 % |
| nondenominational | worldwide | 14.0 % |
Religions spread over time through a process called diffusion. The map shown above indicates where the identified religions are most prominent. There are two methods of diffusion: expansion and relocation. In expansion diffusion, beliefs of a religion transmit by direct contact between believers and nonbelievers.
Studies in the 21st century suggest that, in terms of percentage and worldwide spread, Islam is the fastest-growing major religion in the world.
How did Christianity expand ? Answer: After crucifixion of Christ, his disciples were tortured and some of them were also crucified. Even it so happened, his disciples started to spread the Christianity.
Following the discovery of a sea route to India by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in the 15th century AD, Western Christianity, in the form of Catholicism and Protestantism, was established in the European colonies of Goa, Tranquebar, Bombay, Madras, and Pondicherry.
The Roman Empire officially adopted Christianity in AD 380. During the Early Middle Ages, most of Europe underwent Christianization, a process essentially complete with the Baltic Christianization in the 15th century.
The impact of the emperors, bishops and key events throughout Rome and abroad will demonstrate how, through the reign of Constantine, Christianity became the dominant religion in the Later Roman Empire. The rise of Christianity in the Western world is a defining feature of history since the Late Roman Empire.
Christianity originated with the ministry of Jesus, a Jewish teacher and healer who proclaimed the imminent Kingdom of God and was crucified c. AD 30–33 in Jerusalem in the Roman province of Judea.
From Rome, the Christ's Nativity celebration spread to other Christian churches to the west and east, and soon most Christians were celebrating Christ's birth on December 25.
What caused Christianity to spread throughout the Roman Empire?
Roman roads and the Pax Romana helped to spread Christianity. Many Romans feared the spread of Christianity, because Christian ideas did not agree with the old Roman ways.
After Jesus, the two most significant figures in Christianity are the apostles Peter and Paul/Saul. Paul, in particular, takes a leading role in spreading the teachings of Jesus to Gentiles (non Jews) in the Roman Empire.
Although Jesus had died, his message had not. Word of his teachings spread to Jewish communities across the empire. This was helped by energetic apostles, such as Paul and by the modern communications of the Roman Empire. Over 30 years, Paul clocked up around 10,000 miles, traveling across the Roman Empire.
Who started Christianity? The movement was started by Jesus of Nazareth in 1st-century Israel. His followers proclaimed him the predicted messiah of the prophets and became known as Christians (Christianoi, "followers of the Christ).