Data source: Gina A. Zurlo and Todd M. Johnson, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2024).
| Glossary item | Definition |
|---|---|
| abbé | (French). A title applied in French to clerics in general. |
| abbess | A woman who is the superior of one of certain communities of nuns following the Benedictine rule, also of orders of canonesses or of the Second Franciscan order. |
| abbey | A senior or superior monastery with a large number of monks ruled by an abbot or a convent ruled by an abbess, or an abbey church. |
| abbey nullius | (Latin, abbey of no diocese; symbol AN). An abbey whose abbot is exempt from diocesan control and under direct papal jurisdiction. |
| abbot | In the Western church, the superior of a large religious house of monks, either Benedictine (Cistercian, Trappist) or Canons Regular. |
| Aboriginal | Original indigenous inhabitant of country, of primitive culture. |
| Aboriginal indigenous churches | Churches indigenous to, because started by, Australian Aborigines. |
| access | This variable measures the degree to which speakers of a language can read the Scriptures in a language they understand. There are 2 varieties: (1) direct access to Scripture is available when a translation has been made into a people’s mother tongue; and (2) indirect access to Scripture is available when near-scripture (near-Bible, near-NT, etc) exists (translation in a language within the same cluster/outer language as the people’s mother tongue). |
| accessibility | In evangelization, the quality or state or extent of a population’s ability to be reached or accessible or approached or communicated with. |
| accumulated enrolment | See enrolment. |
| acolyte | In the Catholic Church, highest of the 4 minor orders conferred on candidates to the priesthood; also, a server who carries candles at mass. |
| acronym | A word formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive or major parts of a compound term. |
| action point | A sticking point or aspect holding up world evangelization which requires definite, specific action in order to overcome it. |
| active attenders | The most active among a group of practicing Christians (qv). |
| active enrolment | See enrolment. |
| actual audience | Total persons who actually listen to or view a given radio/TV broadcast. |
| Addis Ababa | See city of Ethiopian Orthodox patriarchate and patriarch. |
| adelphoi | (NT Greek). Brothers, brethren; term in use by Christian Brethren (Plymouth Brethren) and other Protestants. |
| adept | An enthusiastic adherent, well-trained devotee. |
| adepte | (French). A follower, adherent. |
| adequacy | The quality or state of sufficiency of resources or activities to meet prior standards or promises, with special reference to meeting stated goals published by religious bodies. |
| adequately-evangelized | The state of evangelization or awareness of Christianity, Christ and the gospel in which persons may be described as having had an adequate opportunity to respond. |
| adherent | A follower of a particular religion, church or philosophy. As used here, the term adherents refers to followers of all kinds (professing, affiliated, practicing, non-practicing, etc.) who are present-in-area residents: men, women, children, infants, nationals and expatriates, native- and foreign- born, immigrants, armed forces, displaced persons, refugees, nomads, et alii. |
| adherents | Followers, supporters, members, believers, devotees of a religion. |
| Adivasis | Aboriginal tribesmen in India. |
Data on 18 categories of religion, including non-religious, by country, province, and people.
Data on all religions, Christian activities, and trends.
Membership data, year begun, and rates of change.
Population and religion data on all major cities & provinces.
Detailed information covering religion, culture, and geography.
A repository of historical data, including a chronology of Christianity from the 1st to 21st centuries.