30,000+ Protestant Denominations: Fact or Fiction?

[MarcoPolo]

I’ve heard on other forums the tens-of-thousands figure for Protestant denominations is a myth. Others agree with it.

What do you think?

Resources encouraged!

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Unless you believe there are over 200 Roman Catholic denominations, then it is myth.

“As a statistical unit in this Encyclopedia, a ‘denomination’ always refers to one single country. Thus the Roman Catholic Church, although a single organization, is described here as consisting of 236 denominations in the world’s 238 countries.” (Barrett, et al, World Christian Encyclopedia, volume 1, page 27, in the “Glossary” under definition for “Denomination” [later updated to 242] )

bringyou.to/apologetics/a106.htm#Catholics

The source is World Christian Encyclopedia by Barrett, Kurian, Johnson (Oxford Univ Press, 2nd edition, 2001).
bringyou.to/apologetics/a106.htm

So, when you throw out the 33,000 number we simply laugh at your ignorance or lack of research.

 

[Ramalama]

I’ve heard this many times and wondered how it could be. A quick “google” indicates there are 380,000 churches in the US. Hmm . . . That’s about 380 people per church. (OK, it’s not real authoritative, but bear with me.) Of that, is it possible 10% are nondenominational? It seems reasonable the nondenominational could each be counted as separate denominations.

I’m not so sure it’s out of the question.

(I say this knowing others are “laughing at my ignorance”.)

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

I’ve heard on other forums the tens-of-thousands figure for Protestant denominations is a myth. Others agree with it.

What do you think?

Resources encouraged!

**Two different Protestant Christian religions are one two many in Christianity, The body of Jesus Christ is not divided.

Their is only One Faith, One baptism, (One Holy Catholic Apostolic church), One Lord.

Resource Ephesians 4:5**

 

[jmcrae]

I’ve heard on other forums the tens-of-thousands figure for Protestant denominations is a myth. Others agree with it.

What do you think?

Resources encouraged!

Myth. The source of this number also claims that there are more than 200 Catholic denominations in union with the Pope.

There are a heck of a lot of Protestant denominations, but I think we are talking more like dozens, rather than tens of thousands.

 

[ibkc]

There is lots of interesting information here:

adherents.com/rel_USA.html#attendance

I think, and I could be wrong so I welcome correction, that the 30,000+ number is arrived at when the various non-denom churches, and perhaps also the many unaffiliated Baptist churches too, are counted as denominations unto themselves.

 

[Righteousone]

Whatever the amounts, fact is that christ would never okay this.

 

[IAmEdmund]

30,000+ number is arrived at when the various non-denom churches, and perhaps also the many unaffiliated Baptist churches too, are counted as denominations unto themselves.

This was my own thinking as well. Having been a Southern Baptist Convention baptist myself, I saw our local church splintered several times in the short 4 years I was there! It happens alot in the protestant realm, especially in churches with a charismatic/pentecostal center. No one can agreee on the `sola scriptura’ interpretations, so they splinter off and start their own churches.

 

[rtconstant]

I wouldn’t call it myth. That implies that he just made up his numbers and there is nothing to indicate that he did. What you have to do with this just like any other survey is read how it was calculated and how the data was interpreted.

Every country is counted exclusively so instances of denominations that exist in almost all countries are counted as individual churches. So for example if 38 countries have instances of the Southern Baptist Church then 38 Southern Baptist “Denominations” are counted. That is obviously not accurate in terms of what people usually mean when they ask “how denominations are there?”. Like Catholicism most denominations have international governments and so are in truth a single organization.

If that is taken into consideration though his numbers are probably pretty close. So it would proabably be more like a few thousand denominations. Also it is true that non-denoms and stand alone pentecostal denominations make up a good portion of this but I personally feel that counting those is as seperate denominations is correct, others would disagree but how you view that would also affect the numbers.

So are the numbers a myth? No. But, you have to read the fine print just like any census or survey.

 

[Syele]

Barretts numbers include catholics, cults, gnostics and others besides Protestants.

His definition of Denomination is flawed.

that is why it a myth.

If you want to use if for discussions on unity just say “There are obviously too many Protestant Denominations!!”

 

[HannahLisa]

The problem with this figure, at least with the recently circulated authority for it, is that a denomination which exists in more than one country is counted as different denominations, one for each country.

Non-denominational churches could be counted as each their own denomination, but I think it would make more sense to just lump them all into non-denominational and have done with it, since that is what they say they are.

A church does not necessarily mean a denomination.

People need to learn to get along despite differing interpretations. It’s not the end of the world to disagree!

 

[MarcoPolo]

So, when you throw out the 33,000 number we simply laugh at your ignorance or lack of research.

What are you laughing at me for? I didn’t assert anything!

The definition of denomination is peculiar in that link of yours.

I tend to think of “denomination” as each different Christian authoritative body. That is my own definition…I realize…please no one freak out. If one goes by that then I think you have to account each individual non-denominational member who is told to read the Bible and “decide what it means for you!” It is along these lines I think those who cite 33,000+ denominations come from because of the disagreement in doctrine of those who have taken it upon themselves to decide for themselves what it is.

At any rate, I am glad I started this thread. Lot of good info going around!

 

[Syele]

S: denomination (a group of religious congregations having its own organization and a distinctive faith)

Individuals and individual churches are not denominations. A denomination is a “group of congregations.”

 

[rtconstant]

Barretts numbers include catholics, cults, gnostics and others besides Protestants.

His definition of Denomination is flawed.

that is why it a myth.

If you want to use if for discussions on unity just say “There are obviously too many Protestant Denominations!!”

While I agree with your over all statement. Personally I find his definition of Denomination (other than the different country thing) to be pretty much spot on. Just because some Protestant denominations are REALLY REALLY out there doesn’t change their origins.

Still, again I agree with your overall statement that “There are obviously too many Protestant Denominations!!” is more than adequate to make the point. Specific numbers are not really all that important.

 

[Syele]

While I agree with your over all statement. Personally I find his definition of Denomination (other than the different country thing) to be pretty much spot on. Just because some Protestant denominations are REALLY REALLY out there doesn’t change their origins.

Still, again I agree with your overall statement that “There are obviously too many Protestant Denominations!!” is more than adequate to make the point. Specific numbers are not really all that important.

So you think Orthodox are Protestants? Gnostics are Protestants? David Koresh, Protestant? Barett includes people who aren’t even considered Christians as Denominations too.

Besides that, if 242 of those are Catholic because of the country thing, then you have 242 baptist cause of the country thing too and 242 of this and that cause of the country thing… so it’s not just 30,000 minus 242. It’d be closer to 30,000 divided by 242. Double that number just to get a ballpark (You probably don’t have every denomination in every country…) you are looking at around 300 denominations if you use his numbers that way. Not nearly so dramatic.

Really, the source is screwy.

 

[RevDrNorth]

I’ve heard on other forums the tens-of-thousands figure for Protestant denominations is a myth. Others agree with it.

What do you think?

Resources encouraged!

I think this figure is a great embellishment. If you look at the Handbook of Denominations and so on I think it is far less. However, that being said there are still a great number of Protestant Denominations. You have several Baptist, several Presbyterian, several Lutheran, and several Anglican. All distinct from one another.

Frankly, you also have a fair number of denominations claiming to be “Catholic”.

This IS America.

 

[rtconstant]

No offense but did you actually read my posts? It looks more like you saw a few words and assumed you knew what I was getting at. I myself said that the country separation applied to Protestants as well. I used the SBC as an example since they have a respectable international representation and yet have a central organization. taking the numbers of the census and removing redundancy of separate national organizations probably leaves a few thousand.

As to the asking me if I think Orthodox are Protestant I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about or why you would even ask that. Gnosticism predates Protestantism by a thousand years, and as for Koresh I really have no idea. If his group sprang from a Protestant denomination then technically yeah I’d say yes. Not really I don’t know enough about them to say one way or the other.

 

[Steadfast]

It’s a convenient tool for bashing Protestantism ready to hand for anyone who cares to pick it up.

I’m Protestant and I will tell you that there is only one Church, but it is not constituted in such a way that every member has perfect agreement with every other on every point of doctrine.

This is a pity for those who are wrong, but they will be corrected, until then it is a matter of liberty.

 

[justinthemartyr]

It’s a convenient tool for bashing Protestantism ready to hand for anyone who cares to pick it up.

I’m Protestant and I will tell you that there is only one Church, but it is not constituted in such a way that every member has perfect agreement with every other on every point of doctrine.

This is a pity for those who are wrong, but they will be corrected, until then it is a matter of liberty.

That is a nice justification.

But it is not sufficient.

Christ did not build one church among many, He only built one, upon kephas(rock,peter) and this church was authoritative, visible, and one. One flock, one shepherd, not many flocks, one shepherd. What, did Jesus just make a bunch of churches and then hope that a few from each church would receive the fullness of the truth? This is impossible. The church is not a scavenger hunt, where you must go to twenty or more churches before realizing what is true and what is not, as I did. Jesus made the Church distinct, visible, legislative, infallible, speaking with His voice, initively, with soundness of doctrine, of one heart, one mind, called to remain one as He and the Father are one, perfectly.

and it remained so for virtually 1500 years of christendom other than the schism, of which the eastern church still held over 98% of the beliefs, including the Eucharist.

There are many in my flock whom you know not of. This would cover the rest of the faiths believing in one God, who have not been evangelised, yet doing the will of God to the best of their abilility.

That is no excuse for Christian relativism. There is but one visible church.

 

[O.S.Luke]

That is no excuse for Christian relativism. There is but one visible church.

I think Steadfast said that, too. Are you agreeing or disagreeing with him?