In the United States, Christianity is the largest religious group, followed by Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism (Kohut and Rogers). According to the Pew Research Council, Christianity represented more than 82 percent of the American population as of March 2002 (Kohut and Rogers). Most of the world's Christians live in America and Europe (Pew Research Center). However, the Christian population currently living in America and Europe is significantly lower than in the early 1900s (Pew Research Center). Christianity is divided into three main branches: Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Protestants. Protestants constitute the largest branch of the Christian religion in the United States and represented fifty-two percent of the American population in 2002 (Kohut and Rogers). Catholics are a close second, representing twenty-four percent of the American population as of March 2002 (Kohut and Rogers). The majority of Christian denominations popular today developed during the five hundred years following the Protestant Reformation and are part of the Protestant denomination (Pew Research Center). Many Christian denominations share largely the same beliefs; however, there are a number of topics on which they disagree, such as the sacrament of baptism. Many Christian denominations practice the tradition of baptism. However, many denominations differ greatly on the meaning and significance of the sacrament or ordinance of baptism. Baptism in the Old Testament is used as a symbol of a believer's devotion to God by washing with water as a sign of purification and consecration. There are many different meanings and techniques of baptism that have been observed by many faiths for thousands of years. Many customs and b...... middle of paper ....... "Baptism (in the Bible)." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Flight. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 56-60. Gale's global history in context. Internet. December 30, 2011. Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Zondervan New International Study Bible. Ed. Kenneth L. Barker. 2008. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002. Pew Research Center. World Christianity: A report on the size and distribution of the world's Christian population. December 19, 2011. December 2011 “Sacrament”. World religions. New York: Macmillan Library Reference USA, 1987. Macmillan Compendium. Gale's global history in context. Internet. November 16, 2011. Sacrament of Baptism. 2003. .