Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ, whom Christians regard as the Son of God and savior of humanity. It began in the first century in the region of Judea and spread across the Roman world and eventually the globe. Christians believe that Jesus' death and resurrection open the way to forgiveness of sins and eternal life. It is the world's largest religion and is expressed through diverse churches and traditions.

The central sacred text is the Bible, which Christians divide into the Old Testament, shared in large part with the Hebrew scriptures, and the New Testament. The New Testament includes the four Gospels, which recount the life and teachings of Jesus, and the Epistles, letters written to early Christian communities by figures such as Paul. Later reflections by early Christian theologians, known as the Church Fathers, helped shape doctrine and interpretation. The Bible, Gospels, Epistles, and writings of the Church Fathers can be read and explored in the U-God library.

Christians believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God and the Messiah foretold in the Hebrew scriptures, fully divine and fully human. They hold that he was born, taught, performed miracles, was crucified under Roman authority, and rose from the dead on the third day. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Christians believe God reconciles humanity to himself and offers salvation. Understandings of Jesus' nature were defined in the early ecumenical councils and are central to Christian worship.

The Trinity is the central Christian teaching that the one God exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Most Christians affirm that these three are co-equal and co-eternal, sharing one divine essence, while remaining one God rather than three gods. This doctrine was articulated in early creeds such as the Nicene Creed. A small number of Christian groups understand God's oneness differently, but Trinitarian belief is held across Catholic, Orthodox, and mainstream Protestant traditions.

Christianity is usually grouped into three major traditions: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Catholicism, the largest, is led by the Pope and centers on sacramental life and apostolic tradition. Eastern Orthodoxy, comprising self-governing churches, emphasizes ancient liturgy and the teachings of the early councils, while Protestantism, arising from the sixteenth-century Reformation, stresses scripture and includes many denominations such as Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal churches. All share belief in Jesus Christ, though they differ on authority, worship, and practice.