Christianity

Christianity is one of the world’s major religions. It began in the 1st century CE in the eastern Mediterranean region. Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. People who follow Christianity are called Christians. Today, Christianity is practiced in many parts of the world.

According to Christian belief, Jesus Christ was born in the region of Judea, which was part of the Roman Empire. Christians believe Jesus was the Messiah, a word meaning a chosen or anointed one. Jesus taught through stories, sayings, and actions. His teachings focused on belief in one God and guidance for daily life. Jesus was executed by Roman authorities around 30 CE.

After the death of Jesus, his followers continued to teach his message. These followers were called apostles, meaning messengers. One important early teacher was Paul the Apostle, who traveled widely and wrote letters to Christian communities. These letters later became part of Christian scripture. Christianity spread through cities of the Roman Empire by travel and communication.

The holy book of Christianity is the Bible. The Bible is divided into two main parts. The Old Testament includes writings from ancient Hebrew tradition. The New Testament includes texts about the life of Jesus and early Christian communities. The New Testament contains four accounts of Jesus’ life, called Gospels, which means “good news.”

Christians gather for worship in buildings called churches. Religious leaders may be called priests, pastors, or ministers, depending on the group. Over time, Christianity developed different branches. The three largest are Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. These branches formed due to differences in leadership, practice, and interpretation of scripture.

Christianity became an official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century. After this, it spread further into Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. In later centuries, Christianity reached the Americas and other regions. Today, Christianity includes many traditions and communities, all connected by shared texts and beliefs about Jesus Christ.