How Many Christian Denominations Are There?

[Aštra’el]

There are many people here on RF who will never understand the *** saying:

“The outer form is not the Essence.”

 

[paarsurrey]

And the overwhellming majority of these denominations are protestant (and that's not even counting the little independent non-denominational protestant churches). Catholicism only has seven rites, and these are united under the Pope and the catechism. Eastern Orthodoxy has 15 self governing churches, but like the Catholics, they are united by a common doctrine. It simply appears that "sola scriptura" is inadequate to maintain unity.

"sola scriptura " not at fault.

Doesn't It simply mean that the Gospels have been doctored by the Hellenist Paulines, please, right?

Regards
___________
Note for the “Religion: Christian or Christianity”, please:
"(Jesus) Yeshua- the Israelite Messiah did not and could not die a cursed death on the Cross", to atone the sins of anybody, one gets to know from many clues in the Gospels itself, please. Right?

 

[PureX]

Personally, I think it's perfectly reasonable to look at the issue in terms of:

- authority: the churches and members of one denomination are all under a common authority.

- community: the churches and members of one denomination all recognize themselves and their fellows as members of the same denomination.

By that measure, a single church can be a denomination in and of itself, and two churches with identical doctrines can be in two different denominations.

I think you make a mistake when you assume that "different denomination" implies "disagreement."

Why stop at the church level, why not just call every individual within the church a different "denomination". After all, every church will have it's "cliques". Each imposing it's own imagined "authority". And so will every individual within the cliques.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Why stop at the church level, why not just call every individual within the church a different "denomination". After all, every church will have it's "cliques". Each imposing it's own imagined "authority". And so will every individual within the cliques.

Two big reasons:

- a member of a church isn't autonomous. They belong to a church.

- the word "denomination" has a meaning defined through usage, and what you're describing isn't how anyone actually uses the word.

 

[PureX]

Two big reasons:

- a member of a church isn't autonomous. They belong to a church.

- the word "denomination" has a meaning defined through usage, and what you're describing isn't how anyone actually uses the word.

We are all autonomous. And we are all "members". The lines could be drawn, anywhere. But if you ask a thousand Christians to name 20 Christian "denominations", they couldn't do it. let alone 200.

 

[1213]

So, you make this an individual problem even though Christians are meant to and have formed communities? And you make it a binary thing, True Christian™ or "other" and you assume that it is a clear thing who is and who isn't?

Why it would not be a clear thing when Bible defines it very clearly?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

We are all autonomous.

And we are all "members".

The lines could be drawn, anywhere.

They're drawn by usage. Or are you not familiar with how language works?

But if you ask a thousand Christians to name 20 Christian "denominations", they couldn't do it. let alone 200.

And if a Christian doesn't know that something exists, this means it doesn't exist?

 

[Heyo]

Why it would not be a clear thing when Bible defines it very clearly?

It may seem clear to you but how then does it come that there is so much disagreement about it? Do you think people of other denominations than yours haven't read the bible?

 

[loverofhumanity]

When I put the above question into my preferred search engine, I got answers ranging from 300 to 45,000+.
This may be in part because of a difference in the definition of "denomination". The high numbers usually result from counting churches (e.g. churches of different countries or even states as different denominations) which have no differences in their dogma. The low numbers otoh lump denominations together which have doctrinal difference but share a common name.

So this will be the counter thread to my recently opened What makes a Christian?. Here I focus on the doctrinal differences. I expect that we will find that the number of denominations is much higher than 300 but lower than 45,000. The simple fact that with every question that gets answered differently, the number doubles (for binary answerable questions).

What are the differences in the denominations you know of?
(Simply think of why you are a not a Catholic/Baptist/Quaker/JW/...)

Regardless of the number, I think the point is that Christianity as one religion with one voice does not exist. Almost all religions today do not speak with one voice so to locate each religion is problematic. So where is Christianity? Is it the Catholic version or the Anglican or Mormon or Jehovah’s Witnesses or Seventh Day Adventist’s because they all maintain theirs is the true version and the others false? I think the real problem is not the numbers but which version is correct.

 

[1213]

It may seem clear to you but how then does it come that there is so much disagreement about it? Do you think people of other denominations than yours haven't read the bible?

I think the disagreement comes from that people don't like the truth. They like their own doctrines more. Maybe they have even read the whole Bible, but they just don't like everything it says, that is why they make own interpretation and doctrine and twist straight to crooked.

 

[paarsurrey]

I think the disagreement comes from that people don't like the truth. They like their own doctrines more. Maybe they have even read the whole Bible, but they just don't like everything it says, that is why they make own interpretation and doctrine and twist straight to crooked.

"Religion: Disciple of Jesus"!

Can one name even one disciple of (Jesus) Yeshua- the Israelite Messiah who wrote any of the four Gospels, please? Right?

Regards
________________
Note for the “Religion: Christian or Christianity”, please:
"(Jesus) Yeshua- the Israelite Messiah did not and could not die a cursed death on the Cross", to atone the sins of anybody, one gets to know from many clues in the Gospels itself, please. Right?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think the disagreement comes from that people don't like the truth. They like their own doctrines more. Maybe they have even read the whole Bible, but they just don't like everything it says, that is why they make own interpretation and doctrine and twist straight to crooked.

Is that why you disagree with other denominations? Because you don't like the truth?

 

[Dogknox20]

Jesus established his church on ROCK! Jesus built ONE (1) church!
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

My Church (Singular) (One) All others (Thousands) are man-made churches all MUST reject these words of Jesus to believe their thousands are correct!
All MUST believe Jesus is a FOOL that he did not build on rock but on sand!
Matthew 7:26
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

All man-made church MUST reject the scriptures, or they would be Catholics!
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. ALL....

All man-made churches must reject Matt 28:20 (above) as a lie from the mouth of God! ALL are forced to think that Satan somehow overpower Jesus and Satan TOOK the body of Jesus from Jesus!? Forced to believe that Jesus did not ALWAYS remain to the very end of the world with the ONLY Church he established on Rock!

 

[1213]

"Religion: Disciple of Jesus"!

Can one name even one disciple of (Jesus) Yeshua- the Israelite Messiah who wrote any of the four Gospels, please? Right?

Why do you ask? I think John was a disciple of Jesus and the gospel of John is by him. And I believe also the other Gospels are written by disciples of Jesus, not necessarily by the twelve original disciples.

 

[1213]

Is that why you disagree with other denominations? Because you don't like the truth?

I don't like the denominations, because I don't think they are loyal to Jesus. I want to be a disciple of Jesus and by how Jesus defines it, I don't think the denominations are disciples of Jesus. Do you think I am not truthful? If yes, please explain how I am not truthful?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I don't like the denominations, because I don't think they are loyal to Jesus. I want to be a disciple of Jesus and by how Jesus defines it, I don't think the denominations are disciples of Jesus. Do you think I am not truthful? If yes, please explain how I am not truthful?

It doesn't seem like you're being deliberately untruthful, but it does seem like you're confused or mistaken.

It's impossible to be a Christian without being in a denomination. Practicing Christianity without being in a denomination would be like typing without a font or speaking without an accent. It's a contradiction in terms.

"Denomination" is just the term we use to describe all the components that make up the whole of Christianity (or any religion), so if you're in that whole, you're in one of its components. It can't be any other way.

 

[Revoltingest]

If I still was Christian, I'd say they're all wrong but mine.

Reminds me of an old true story.....
Bob is run over & killed by a large bacon truck.
He arrives in Heaven, & is given a tour.
There are various encampments for different religions.
He passes by one, which differs from most because
it's walled off. Thru the glass door, he spies his old
friend Ray, smiles, & waves. But Ray doesn't notice.
St Peter explains....
"He's Word Of God. They like to believe they're the
only ones up here. So the glass is one-way."

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Why do you ask? I think John was a disciple of Jesus and the gospel of John is by him. And I believe also the other Gospels are written by disciples of Jesus, not necessarily by the twelve original disciples.

Those scholars who analyze the texts say that John has more than one author, that it is based on a much shorter Book of Signs.

 

[1213]

Those scholars who analyze the texts say that John has more than one author, that it is based on a much shorter Book of Signs.

That is interesting, but I don't see any good reason to believe them.

 

[1213]

It doesn't seem like you're being deliberately untruthful, but it does seem like you're confused or mistaken.

It's impossible to be a Christian without being in a denomination. Practicing Christianity without being in a denomination would be like typing without a font or speaking without an accent. It's a contradiction in terms.

"Denomination" is just the term we use to describe all the components that make up the whole of Christianity (or any religion), so if you're in that whole, you're in one of its components. It can't be any other way.

Denomination = a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church. Denominations are sects that have gone out of the original group of disciples of Jesus. Bible is against such sects.

Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Gal. 5:19-21

But obviously this depends on how you define Christianity. If it does not mean to be a disciple of Jesus, then maybe you are correct. I recommend everyone to rather be a disciple of Jesus in that case. And to be that doesn't need any denomination, it is enough to have the teachings of Jesus and to remain in his word.

Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
John 8:31-32