A plain-English guide to what all Christians hold in common and how major denominations differ.

Joining our successful line of For Dummies books on religion, this easy-to-understand guide demystifies two millennia of Christian history and theology and helps people grasp the essentials of the faith and put their own beliefs in context.

It explores the life and teachings of Jesus in the four gospels and describes the sacred books and doctrines common to all Christians. It elucidates concepts such as the Trinity, the eternal soul, heaven and hell, and Christian sacraments.

And it explains how the Christian faith has developed over the centuries, pinpointing differences between major branches and discussing doctrinal controversies that still persist today.