What is the minimal amount you should know?

Within Islam, the minimal amount that you need to know is the Shahada - Allah is God and Muhammad is His Prophet.

Within Buddhism, the minimal amount you should know are the Three Jewels - the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha - an example to follow, a way to live and a community to belong to.

What is the minimal message of Christianity?

John 3:16?

Jesus loves you?

I think it should be a little deeper than these.

I think, if someone can understand the following points, then they have a good grasp on the basics of following Jesus.

God made everything.

God knows and loves what He has made.

This includes humanity, including you.

God desires a relationship with people, including you.

Jesus is God in the flesh/incarnate.

Jesus reveals what God is like.

Through His actions on the cross, Jesus made a relationship of friendship possible between God and humanity, including you.

We are, ultimately, saved by grace - based only on what God has done - through faith - trusting in God alone.