Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as depicted in the New Testament. It has been gradually developing itself for four thousand years. "Patriarchs and prophets, saints and martyrs, from Adam to John the Baptist, with great expectation, were looking forward to some glorious age indistinctly apprehended, but ardently desired."

Most Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and that the New Testament records the Gospel that was revealed by Jesus. With an estimated 2.1 billion adherents, or approximately 33% of the world's population in 2007, Christianity is the world's largest religion. It is the predominant religion in Europe, the Americas, Southern Africa, the Philippines and Oceania. It is also growing rapidly in Africa and Asia, particularly in China, South Korea and the Middle East.

Christianity began as an offshoot of Judaism, and includes the Hebrew Bible (known to Christians as the Old Testament) as well as the New Testament as its canonical scriptures. Like Judaism and Islam, Christianity is classified as an Abrahamic (e.g. Judeo-Christian) religion.

• Christian History