What is Christianity? A Plain Introduction

Core beliefs

One God, three Persons. Christians worship one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — the Trinity.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Fully divine and fully human. He lived, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, was buried, and rose bodily on the third day.
The Holy Spirit is alive and active. Sent at Pentecost, the Spirit empowers believers and the church.
The Bible is God's Word. The Old and New Testaments are the inspired, authoritative Scriptures.
Salvation is by grace through faith. Eternal life is a gift offered through trust in Christ — not earned.
The Church. The community of all who follow Jesus, gathered locally as congregations.
Christ will return. History is moving toward Christ's second coming and the renewal of all things.

The story of the Bible

Christians read the Bible as one unfolding story:

Creation. God creates the world good.
Fall. Humanity rebels; sin and death enter the world.
Israel. God calls a people to bless the nations.
Christ. Jesus comes as Israel's Messiah and the world's Savior.
Church. The Spirit forms a global people who live the gospel.
Renewal. Christ returns; God makes all things new.

Christian practices

Worship. Christians gather weekly — usually on Sunday — to sing, pray, hear scripture, and share communion.
Baptism. Initiation into the faith. See our baptism guide.
Communion / Eucharist / Lord's Supper. A meal of bread and wine commemorating Christ's death.
Prayer. Personal and corporate communication with God.
Reading scripture. Daily reflection on the Bible.
Service and mission. Caring for the poor, the sick, and the stranger; sharing the gospel.

How big is Christianity?

~2.4 billion Christians worldwide
~230 million Christians in the United States
Three main streams: Catholic (~1.3B), Orthodox (~280M), Protestant (~900M)
Hundreds of denominations and movements within each stream

Different streams, one faith

Christians disagree on many things — church government, sacraments, biblical interpretation, ethics. But the historic Christian creeds (the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed) summarize what all branches share.

Where to start

Read the Gospel of John. The most accessible introduction to Jesus.
Visit a church. See our first-time visit guide.
Talk to a Christian. Most are happy to share their experience.
Pray. If you're curious about God, you can simply ask.

What is Christianity?