Foundations
Who Are Christians?
What it means to be a Christian, and the diversity of Christian traditions worldwide.
What Makes Someone a Christian
A Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and follows his teachings. Most Christian traditions mark entry into the faith through baptism, and regard the Bible as the authoritative record of God's revelation.
A Global and Diverse Community
Christians are found on every inhabited continent and across an enormous range of cultures, languages, and traditions — from Catholic and Orthodox communities with roots stretching back two thousand years, to Protestant denominations with more recent origins, to growing Christian populations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Shared and Distinct Practices
Nearly all Christian traditions share practices such as baptism, communal worship, prayer, and reading Scripture, while differing in matters like the number and understanding of the sacraments, church governance, and devotional practices — such as the veneration of saints, common in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity. The Mass is the central act of worship in Catholic and Orthodox practice, held weekly on Sundays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Christians believe the same things?
Christians share core beliefs about Jesus and the Trinity, but denominations differ on matters of church authority, sacraments, and some doctrines — see What Is Christianity for an overview of the major branches.
Is Christianity only followed in Western countries?
No — Christianity originated in the Middle East, and today has large and growing populations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, alongside long-standing communities in Europe and the Americas.