Christian denominations

[Randy_Carson]

I’ve seen the figure of 41000 quoted as the approximate number of Christian confessions/denominations in the world. Do others find that figure plausible, or even know it to be substantiated?

Thanks!

This number is probably a bit high, and it suffers from a certain degree of “creep”. Just a few years ago we were arguing over the number 33,000 in this very forum.

My own opinion is that the number of Protestant denominations world-wide runs into several thousands…and that is a far cry from the “one” Church which Jesus established upon Peter, the rock.

 

[SyroMalankara]

The 41000 figure sound right, depending on how one categorizes “denomination”, just for the US; figures would run 10-100X that if extrapolated worldwide.

Again, there is no consensus on what “denomination” means other than, “not them”.

 

[GKC]

This number is probably a bit high, and it suffers from a certain degree of “creep”. Just a few years ago we were arguing over the number 33,000 in this very forum.

My own opinion is that the number of Protestant denominations world-wide runs into several thousands…and that is a far cry from the “one” Church which Jesus established upon Peter, the rock.

The creep likely reflects the steady growth reported in THE CHRISTIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA, etc, assuming, as I do, that it is the basic, if unacknowledged, source. Their figures do increase, over the years, and roughly parallel the figures seen in discussions like this.

GKC

 

[joe371]

The creep likely reflects the steady growth reported in THE CHRISTIAN ENCYCLOPEDIA, etc, assuming, as I do, that it is the basic, if unacknowledged, source. Their figures do increase, over the years, and roughly parallel the figures seen in discussions like this.

GKC

I cannot help wondering if Jesus would be upset (John 17 - unity) with only 10 more churches, in addition to the church he established (which ever church one believes is the one church established by Jesus)? Your thoughts?