Why Did Christianity Struggle in Asia While Thriving in Europe?

From Early Expansion to Modern Minorities

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with over 2.8 billion followers.

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People practice it everywhere, from the United States to strict dictatorships like North Korea. Although Christianity began in Judea in the Middle East, today, it is often linked to the Western world.

Yet, Christianity is a global faith with roots in the Middle East. However, it hasn’t spread as much in Asia as it has in the West.

Christianity started spreading from Judea to nearby places in the Levant, now known as Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Cyprus. Antioch, an early Christian centre, became a new base for the faith. Apostles like Peter, Paul, and Barnabas spread Christianity to Armenia and Georgia.The religion also moved into regions like Mesopotamia and Parthia and even reached India on its way to the Far East.

Eventually, Nestorian Christians travelled from present-day Iraq to China. The first recorded arrival of Christianity in China was during the Tang Dynasty, between the 7th and 10th centuries. A priest named Alopen was welcomed by the Chinese Emperor in 635 AD. Although Christianity spread at first, local Buddhists and Daoists…