What is the origin of Christianity?

The generally accepted origin of Christianity is that about 2000 years ago, a charismatic religious leader, Jesus, and his followers formed a new branch of Judaism that emphasized forgiveness, acceptance, and salvation. The forgiving nature of their branch of Judaism, renamed Christianity after Jesus's religious title, Christ, and the charisma of the group helped the religion spread quickly throughout the former Roman territories, and it became strongly established throughout Europe within a few hundred years.