Denominations / non-denominations

[mayxanh]

What are they? What does these means? What are the differences between them?

May protestants be either denominational or non-denominational?

I am all confused. Sorry, I am quite new to Christianity. I was raised Buddhism.

I like a simple life and avoid all the headache, that’s why I choose the Catholic Church.

 

[Christopher1290]

non denominational is for mostly anyone who professes to be Christian, there is no tradition really. Denominational are those that claim to come down from another church like the baptists, etc… Non denominational is just for any Christian that wants to go to a service. If im wrong someone tell me because to the best of my knowledge this is the difference, but i never really been to a protestant service before, i have some friends that are though.

 

[october_baby]

non denominational is for mostly anyone who professes to be Christian, there is no tradition really. Denominational are those that claim to come down from another church like the baptists, etc… Non denominational is just for any Christian that wants to go to a service. If im wrong someone tell me because to the best of my knowledge this is the difference, but i never really been to a protestant service before, i have some friends that are though.

Seems about right to me, but an added component must be considered. Alot of non-denoms
don’t like to have doctrines, it seems to me non-denoms are just a group of like minded
individuals or they just like the preacher.

 

[Texsain]

Seems about right to me, but an added component must be considered. Alot of non-denoms
don’t like to have doctrines, it seems to me non-denoms are just a group of like minded
individuals or they just like the preacher.

From what I can see, a lot of non-denominational churches tend to be Baptist/Ana-Baptist in tradition. Many “mega churches” are non-denom.

 

[Atticus_Sparrow]

Many members of my family tend to fall under the umbrella term of “non-denominational.”

That, at least here in the South, tends to be for many Pentecostals and Holiness types. Big on laying on hands, speaking in tongues and lots of shouting. Jimmy Swaggart’s ministry was popular in those circles when I was a boy.

 

[TwinMommy]

I am a Protestant…well one who is rapidly seeing that the Catholic Church is the Church.
There are tons of denominations. Within the Baptist denomination, there are sub-denominations. I went to Independent Baptist churches, meaning they are not having to answer to anyone. I also went to Independent Fundamental Baptist churches. I would describe fundamental as wicked strict. Some don’t allow dancing, some the women have to wear skirts all the time, listening to anything other than hymns is not allowed because all other Christian music is evil…and so on. Currently I am in a non-denominational church. If you ask me non-denominational has become it’s own denomination. Non-denominational churches can vary in all ways. No two are anything alike. It doesn’t really matter what denomination a church is labeled with, they figure out what is right for them, what will be taught(where I am at the Pastors refuse to do any teaching on Revelation), and what is right or wrong in the life of the members of the church of that particular church.

This sounds all totally bitter and I don’t mean it to. My eyes and heart have been opened to the truth and I am amazed at how much time I wasted within these churches.

 

[Texsain]

I am a Protestant…well one who is rapidly seeing that the Catholic Church is the Church.
There are tons of denominations. Within the Baptist denomination, there are sub-denominations. I went to Independent Baptist churches, meaning they are not having to answer to anyone. I also went to Independent Fundamental Baptist churches. I would describe fundamental as wicked strict. Some don’t allow dancing, some the women have to wear skirts all the time, listening to anything other than hymns is not allowed because all other Christian music is evil…and so on. Currently I am in a non-denominational church. If you ask me non-denominational has become it’s own denomination. Non-denominational churches can vary in all ways. No two are anything alike. It doesn’t really matter what denomination a church is labeled with, they figure out what is right for them, what will be taught(where I am at the Pastors refuse to do any teaching on Revelation), and what is right or wrong in the life of the members of the church of that particular church.

This sounds all totally bitter and I don’t mean it to. My eyes and heart have been opened to the truth and I am amazed at how much time I wasted within these churches.

To clarify (as I’m sure you know) Baptists, in general, see all Baptist churches as technically independent. But a Baptist church that calls itself “Independent” is not aligned with any convention or synod (e.g. Southern Baptist Convention).

There are many different historical varieties of Baptist, including Missionary Baptists (prominent among African Americans, at least in Texas), Free Will Baptists, who rejected Calvinism in favor of Arminianism; and Primitive Baptists, who are strict "if it’s not in the Bible, we don’t do it types (for example, since the Bible doesn’t have Sunday Bible study classes, neither do they - I kid you not!)

 

[TwinMommy]

To clarify (as I’m sure you know) Baptists, in general, see all Baptist churches as technically independent. But a Baptist church that calls itself “Independent” is not aligned with any convention or synod (e.g. Southern Baptist Convention).

There are many different historical varieties of Baptist, including Missionary Baptists (prominent among African Americans, at least in Texas), Free Will Baptists, who rejected Calvinism in favor of Arminianism; and Primitive Baptists, who are strict "if it’s not in the Bible, we don’t do it types (for example, since the Bible doesn’t have Sunday Bible study classes, neither do they - I kid you not!)

It is amazing at the number of Baptist sects. When I was searching for a new church because I am moving, I really started seeing the differences and that made me question why. There isn’t unity. That and other questions brought me here.

 

[ltwin]

What are they? What does these means? What are the differences between them?

May protestants be either denominational or non-denominational?

I am all confused. Sorry, I am quite new to Christianity. I was raised Buddhism.

I like a simple life and avoid all the headache, that’s why I choose the Catholic Church.

Webster’s Dictionary entry for “denomination”:

a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices

Therefore, simply put, any single Christian group is a denomination. For example, the United Methodist Church is a denomination. The Episcopal Church is a denomination. The Southern Baptist Convention is a denomination.

While many Catholics will not agree, according to this definition, the Catholic Church would be a denomination since it is a “religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices.”

The term “non-denomination” is often used to designate a local congregation that is not associated with a larger religious organization. It is independent of any larger church or church leadership. It is completely self-governing and self-regulating. It does not submit to any hierarchy beyond the local congregation.

These type congregations will often be termed “non-denominational churches.” A member of such a church will often designate themselves as “non-denominational.”