Data source: Gina A. Zurlo and Todd M. Johnson, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2024).
| Glossary item | Definition |
|---|---|
| mysticism | The experience of mystical union or direct communion with God; the doctrine or belief that direct communion with God is attainable. |
| myth | A traditional story explaining some practice, belief, institution or natural phenomenon, parable, allegory, legend, saga, fable. |
| mythology | The myths dealing with gods and demigods of a particular people. |
| name for God | In any people’s Christian scriptures, the major name used for God, the Supreme Being. |
| Nasoreans | Mandaeans (qv). |
| nation | A politically-organized nationality, ethno-linguistic group or family or people, usually with independent existence in a sovereign nation-state; state, country. |
| nation | A politically-organized nationality with independent, self-governing, autonomous existence as a sovereign country or nation-state, hence eligible for membership in the United Nations. |
| nation, sovereign | See sovereign territory. |
| national | (1) Relating to a nation. (2) One who owes permanent allegiance to a nation without regard to place of residence; often a citizen but not necessarily so. |
| national Christian councils | Councils of churches and denominations which also include para-church organizations as full members. |
| national church | The church of a nation; established church, state church, or occasionally a former state church now disestablished. |
| national clergy | Clergy who are nationals of the nation they work in. |
| national conciliarism | Nationwide councils of churches and Christian councils of all kinds number about 550. |
| national councils of churches | Councils of churches in which full membership is only open to denominations, but not to para-church organizations. |
| national income per person | The average per capita annual income in a country at a particular date, usually derived as gross national product (qv) per capita. |
| native | An individual born or raised in the territory in which he lives. |
| native language | Mother tongue (qv). |
| native speakers | Mother-tongue speakers of a specific language. |
| nativistic movement | Among tribal or primitive peoples, a movement advocating or advancing the perpetuation or reestablishment of native culture traits and a concomitant restriction or removal of foreign culture elements often accompanied by a strong messianic or ceremonial cult. |
| natural change | Demographic change as experienced by the whole population of a country or area including all its religious bodies, composed of biological change together with migration change. |
| natural growth rate | The net sum of crude birth rate in the population minus crude death rate, plus net immigration rate. |
| natural increase | In United Nations usage, biological change or the excess of births over deaths in a population. |
| natural increase | Births in a population minus deaths within a fixed period, usually one year. Sometimes a figure for net immigration is added. |
| naturalization | The process by which aliens acquire the nationality of their country of residence. |
| naturalized persons | Former aliens who have now become citizens. |
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.