A new global Christianity report predicts that there will be 2.6 billion Christians by 2020

A new global Christianity report predicts that there will be 2.6 billion Christians by 2020, 

 

The study conducted by U.S.-based Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary titled, "Christianity In Its Global Context, 1970-2010", offers a timely overview of the changing context of Christianity since 1970, while looking forward to 2020. The data in the study also details the religious and social contexts of each of the 21 United Nations regions and the changes that will occur within them.


Todd Johnson, director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, noted that while 2.6 billion is a daunting figure, there has been and will continue to be a decline in the number of Christians in North America and Europe.  "Secularization is strong here, but it's far more pervasive in Europe. People are now choosing for themselves instead of following a religion established by a state or a country," said Johnson to The Christian Post on Thursday.
According to the report, Christianity in Europe rose from 75 percent in 1970 to 78.6 percent in 2010, mostly attributed to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.  But the report shows that Christianity in Europe is expected to decline to 78.0 percent by 2020.



 
"In Europe, modern science pushes religion and sees it as a myth or superstition," said Johnson, referring to the cause for agnosticism. "People think that church and state are too closely aligned so when people do have a choice, they're not interested in Christianity as a national religion," he added.
In North America, Christianity is expected to decline from 91 percent in 1970 to 76.9 percent in 2020.  This drastic decline can mostly be attributed to Canada, where the Christian population fell from 94.5 percent of the population in 1970 to 69.4 percent in 2010, and is expeced to drop to 66.0 percent in 2020.  The United States, meanwhile, saw its Christian population drop from 90.9 percent in 1970 to 80.1 percent in 2012, and is projected to drop to 78.1 percent in 2020.

Like us on facebook.com/naijagospelbeaz or follow us on twitter @naijagospelbeatz

Read More>>>>