| 95–100% | |
| 90–95% | |
| 80–90% | |
| 70–80% | |
| 60–70% | |
| 50–60% | |
| 30–40% | |
| 20–30% | |
| 10–20% | |
| 5–10% | |
| 2–4% | |
| < 1% |
| Christianity by country |
|---|
 |
 Christianity portal |
| Part of a series on |
| Christianity |
|---|
 |
.jpg)
Christianity is the predominant religion in Europe.[2] Christianity has been practiced in Europe since the first century, and a number of the Pauline Epistles were addressed to Christians living in Greece, as well as other parts of the Roman Empire.
According to a 2010 study by the Pew Research Center, 76.2% of the European population identified themselves as Christians.[3]
As of 2010, Roman Catholics were the largest Christian group in Europe, accounting for more than 48% of European Christians.[3] The second-largest Christian group in Europe were the Orthodox, who made up 32% of European Christians.[3] About 19% of European Christians were part of the mainline Protestant tradition.[3] Russia is the largest Christian country in Europe by population, followed by Germany and Italy.[3]
Since at least the legalization of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, Europe has been an important centre of Christian culture, even though the religion was inherited from the Middle East and important Christian communities have thrived outside Europe such as Oriental Orthodoxy and the Church of the East since the time of Christ. Christian culture has been an important force in Western civilization, influencing the course of philosophy, art, and science.[4][5]
Historically, Europe has been the center and "cradle of Christian civilization".[6][7][8][9] Christianity played a prominent role in the development of the European culture and identity.[10][11][12] Europe has a rich Christian culture, especially as numerous saints and martyrs and almost all the popes were European themselves. All of the Roman Catholic popes from 741 to 2013 were from Europe.[13] Europe brought together many of the Christian holy sites and heritage and religious centers.[14]
- ^ Pew Forum, Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050
- ^ "Europe". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
Most Europeans adhere to one of three broad divisions of Christianity: Roman Catholicism in the west and southwest, Protestantism in the north, and Eastern Orthodoxy in the east and southeast
- ^ a b c d e Christianity in Europe Archived 2012-01-04 at the Wayback Machine, including the Asian part of Russia, excluding the European part of Turkey
- ^ Koch, Carl (1994). The Catholic Church: Journey, Wisdom, and Mission. Early Middle Ages: St. Mary's Press. ISBN 978-0-88489-298-4.
- ^ Dawson, Christopher; Glenn Olsen (1961). Crisis in Western Education (reprint ed.). ISBN 978-0-8132-1683-6.
- ^ A. J. Richards, David (2010). Fundamentalism in American Religion and Law: Obama's Challenge to Patriarchy's Threat to Democracy. University of Philadelphia Press. p. 177. ISBN 9781139484138.
..for the Jews in twentieth-century Europe, the cradle of Christian civilization.
- ^ D'Anieri, Paul (2019). Ukraine and Russia: From Civilied Divorce to Uncivil War. Cambridge University Press. p. 94. ISBN 9781108486095.
..for the Jews in twentieth-century Europe, the cradle of Christian civilization.
- ^ L. Allen, John (2005). The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside story of How the Pope Was Elected and What it Means for the World. Penguin UK. ISBN 9780141954714.
Europe is historically the cradle of Christian culture, it is still the primary center of institutional and pastoral energy in the Catholic Church...
- ^ Rietbergen, Peter (2014). Europe: A Cultural History. Routledge. p. 170. ISBN 9781317606307.
Europe is historically the cradle of Christian culture, it is still the primary center of institutional and pastoral energy in the Catholic Church...
- ^ Byrnes, Timothy A.; Katzenstein, Peter J. (2006). Religion in an Expanding Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 110. ISBN 978-0521676519.
- ^ Hewitson, Mark; D’Auria, Matthew (2012). Europe in Crisis: Intellectuals and the European Idea, 1917–1957. New York; Oxford: Berghahn Books. p. 243. ISBN 9780857457271.
- ^ Nikodemos Anagnostopoulos, Archimandrite (2017). Orthodoxy and Islam. Taylor & Francis. p. 16. ISBN 9781315297927.
Christianity has undoubtedly shaped European identity, culture, destiny, and history.
- ^ "After Benedict: who will be the next Pope?". Speroforum.com. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
- ^ Quoted in Robin Lane Fox, The Unauthorized Version, 1992:235.