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.
Recommended reading
- Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis — the classic introduction
- The Reason for God by Tim Keller — for skeptics and seekers
- Simply Christian by N. T. Wright — a fresh introduction to the Christian story
- Catechism of the Catholic Church — the comprehensive Catholic introduction