A Christian is someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and believes he was the Son of God. Christians read the Bible, which contains both the Hebrew scriptures (called the Old Testament) and the New Testament, which tells the story of Jesus's life and the early Christian church.

Christianity began about 2,000 years ago in the Middle East and grew to become the world's largest religion, with over two billion followers across every continent. Christians gather in churches to worship, pray, and learn together. Different groups of Christians, called denominations, practice their faith in various ways. Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians all follow Jesus's teachings but have different traditions and ways of worship.

The core beliefs that unite Christians include faith in Jesus Christ, the importance of love and forgiveness, and the belief in eternal life. Many Christians try to follow Jesus's teaching to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which means treating others with kindness and respect.

When someone describes something as Christian, they might mean it relates to this religion or its values. A Christian school teaches regular subjects while also including religious education. Christian holidays like Christmas (celebrating Jesus's birth) and Easter (celebrating his resurrection) are observed around the world, including by many non-Christians.