The Christian Faith claims to have 1,000,000,000+ believers, but how many do you think they really have?

Question

I mean out of my class in school All but two of us were, according to the goverment, were christians but none of us really believed in it. This was the same in my uni classes and several other groups. Our local church probably has a catchment area of 1,000 but they barely get over twenty people in their church.

So how many believers do you think they have, I'd put it at around 200,000,000 or less.

Answer 1

All organisations make exagerated claims. The business of christianity is no different.

Answer 2

Well first of all just remember religions aren't just part of a 'numbers war,' but they're simply ways of reaching God.

Now first of all it all depends on what you define as a 'Christian,' as you've basically suggested. If you say it's somebody who loves and trusts in Jesus Christ above all and considers him the way to God, then there would be considerably more. However, is it ok if somebody says he does this, and does believe in Christ, but doesn't actually always take his teachings into practise? For example if a so-called Christian is a sexual player - never really loving the woman he sleeps with but just does it for fun, is he really a Christian? Yet you could argue that nobody is perfect - and Christ forgives if you truly repent.. so if those people do later repent you can call them Christians

I've written this answer terribly, but fact is that it all depends on what you mean by 'Christian' believer, or practicer and believer

Answer 3

Much much less, 1 billion people 'CLAIM' to be christian, it's just like Latin America where 95% are supposedly Catholic, which is complete bullsh!t, all those statistics are based on what people write down on a survey not what they actually do in their everyday lives (not to mention that certain governements report their entire population as christian), I fill out forms and put 'catholic' but haven't been to church in 5 years (3 years before that), and pretty much don't believe in god. I would say the correct amount of those who believe and FOLLOW the bible is about 5-8% of christians


EDIT - PLEASE read Jeanmarie's comment

Answer 4

I read about a poll in the U.S. that said of the people that claimed Christianity only 30% called themselves "born again". And Jesus told Nicodemus that if one was not born again they would not enter heaven.
So what does this say?

I work in a small company and I am the only non-catholic. They are all party animals and make fun of Born again Christians.

†

Answer 5

Christianity claims 1 billion plus.
Less than 1 billion call themselves Christian.
Half a billion really believe.
250 million are Catholics that think the Protestants are going to hell.
250 million Protestants think the Catholics are going to hell.
The protestants are divided into 10,000 different sects and denominations, each of which think the others are all going to hell.

And they wonder why I'm a skeptic.

Answer 6

You need to reconsider. According to Revelations at the time of the second coming of Christ there will only be 144,000 True Believers

Answer 7

I personally think there's been only one person who believed with all his heart that Jesus was the Messiah, and he died on the cross around AD 34.

Answer 8

Really, this is impossible to say-only God knows. Is it important? It is only important to know if you are-is a few hundred thousand here or there going to help persuade you in any way?

Answer 9

I'm inclined to agree with you. Many people call themselves Christians because that's the religion they were raised with (even if only nominally), but they don't really believe in it. I've known many people like that.

Answer 10

I'd say less than that. Catholics are not saved Christians, so that subtracts all of them. And most that say "I'm a christian" would fail the Bible's proof test about what makes someone a Christian.