What Is Christianity?
Quick Answer
Christianity is a religion followed by about 2.4 billion people around the world, making it the largest religion on Earth. Christians believe in one God and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, who they believe is the Son of God. Their holy book is the Bible, and they gather to worship in churches.
Explaining By Age Group
Ages 3-5 Simple Explanation
You know how some families go to a building called a church on Sundays? That is because they follow a religion called Christianity. A religion is a set of beliefs about God and how to live a good life, and Christianity is the one with the most followers in the whole world.
Christians believe in God, and they believe God sent his son, Jesus, to Earth a very long time ago. Jesus taught people to love each other, to be kind, and to help those who are having a hard time. Christians think Jesus was very, very special.
Christians have a special book called the Bible. It is full of stories about God, about Jesus, and about people learning to do the right thing. Families read it together, and teachers at church tell the stories to kids.
Christians celebrate holidays you might know, like Christmas, which is about when Jesus was born, and Easter, which is about something amazing Christians believe happened to Jesus. These holidays are full of family, food, and joy.
Ages 6-8 More Detail
Christianity is the biggest religion in the world, with about 2.4 billion followers. That means almost one out of every three people on Earth is a Christian! Christians live on every continent and in almost every country.
Christians believe in one God, and they believe that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to Earth about 2,000 years ago. Jesus was born in a town called Bethlehem and grew up to be a teacher. He taught people to love their neighbors, forgive others, and care for the poor and the sick.
The holy book of Christianity is called the Bible. It has two main parts: the Old Testament, which tells stories from before Jesus was born, and the New Testament, which tells the story of Jesus and his followers. Christians read the Bible to learn about God and how to live.
Christians worship in buildings called churches. They pray, sing songs, and listen to teachings there. Some go every Sunday, while others go on special holidays. There are many different types of Christians, like Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians, but they all follow Jesus.
Two of the most important Christian holidays are Christmas and Easter. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. Easter celebrates what Christians believe was Jesus coming back to life after he died. These holidays are celebrated with family, church services, and traditions that have been around for hundreds of years.
Christianity started as a small group of followers in the Middle East and grew to become the world's largest religion. It has shaped art, music, laws, and culture all over the world for the past 2,000 years.
Ages 9-12 Full Explanation
Christianity is the world's largest religion, with roughly 2.4 billion followers across every continent. It began about 2,000 years ago in the Middle East and is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, also called Jesus Christ. The word "Christ" comes from a Greek word meaning "chosen one," which reflects what Christians believe about Jesus.
At the center of Christianity is the belief that Jesus is the Son of God, sent to Earth to teach people and to save them from sin. Christians believe Jesus performed miracles, was put to death on a cross, and then rose from the dead three days later. This event, called the Resurrection, is the most important belief in all of Christianity and is what Easter celebrates.
The Christian holy book is the Bible, which is actually a collection of 66 smaller books written by many different people over hundreds of years. The Old Testament shares history and teachings from before Jesus, many of which are also important in Judaism. The New Testament focuses on Jesus's life, his teachings, and the early years of the Christian church. The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book in history.
Christianity is not one single group. Over the centuries, it has branched into many traditions. The three largest branches are Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox. Catholics follow the Pope in Rome as their leader. Protestants include many different groups like Baptists, Methodists, and Lutherans. Orthodox Christians are strongest in Eastern Europe and Greece. While these groups have differences in how they worship and organize, they all share the core belief in Jesus.
Christianity has had a huge effect on world history and culture. Many of the holidays you know, like Christmas and Easter, come from Christian traditions. Hospitals, universities, and charitable organizations around the world were started by Christians trying to follow Jesus's teaching to help others. Christian art, music, and architecture, from cathedral buildings to gospel songs, have shaped cultures everywhere.
If you have Christian friends or classmates, you might notice them praying before meals, wearing a cross necklace, or going to church. These are ways they practice their faith in everyday life. Christianity, like all religions, is not just a set of ideas. It is a way of life that shapes how people treat others, make decisions, and understand the world.
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Tips for Parents
Christianity can be a challenging topic to discuss with your child. Here are some practical tips to help guide the conversation:
DO: Follow your child's lead. Let them ask questions at their own pace rather than overwhelming them with information they haven't asked for yet. If they seem satisfied with a simple answer, that's okay — they'll come back with more questions when they're ready.
DO: Use honest, age-appropriate language. You don't need to share every detail, but avoid making up stories or deflecting. Kids can sense when you're being evasive, and honesty builds trust.
DO: Validate their feelings. Whatever emotion your child has in response to learning about christianity, acknowledge it. Say things like 'It makes sense that you'd feel that way' or 'That's a really good question.'
DON'T: Don't dismiss their curiosity. Responses like 'You're too young for that' or 'Don't worry about it' can make children feel like their questions are wrong or shameful. If you're not ready to answer, say 'That's an important question. Let me think about the best way to explain it, and we'll talk about it tonight.'
DO: Create an ongoing dialogue. One conversation usually isn't enough. Let your child know that they can always come back to you with more questions about christianity. This makes them more likely to come to you rather than seeking potentially unreliable sources.
Common Follow-Up Questions Kids Ask
After discussing christianity, your child might also ask:
What is the difference between Catholic and Protestant?
Catholics and Protestants are both Christians, but they have some differences. Catholics follow the Pope as the head of their church and have traditions like confession and praying to saints. Protestants broke away about 500 years ago and generally focus more on the Bible alone as their guide. Both believe in Jesus and read the Bible.
Who was Jesus?
Jesus was a Jewish man born about 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, in what is now Israel. Christians believe he was the Son of God who came to Earth to teach people and save them from sin. He gathered followers, taught about love and forgiveness, and Christians believe he rose from the dead after being crucified.
Why do Christians go to church on Sunday?
Christians worship on Sunday because they believe Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday. That made it a special day of celebration and rest. At church, they pray together, sing, listen to teachings from the Bible, and spend time as a community of believers.
What is the most important teaching in Christianity?
Jesus said the two most important rules are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. He taught that every person matters, that forgiveness is powerful, and that people should care for the poor, the sick, and the outcast. These teachings are at the heart of what it means to be a Christian.
How did Christianity spread around the world?
After Jesus died, his followers traveled to different countries to share his teachings. Over centuries, Christianity spread through the Roman Empire, then into Europe, and eventually to Africa, the Americas, and Asia through missionaries and colonization. Today it is found in virtually every country on Earth.
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