explosion of christianity

[traillius]

How many denominations are there today? and how often does a new one start?

 

[J_C]

How many denominations are there today? and how often does a new one start?

I think this depends on how you define dnomination.

some peopel think that every separate group of worshipers is a denomination, and say there are around 30,000 of them.

personally I don’t like that definition, although it is useful when arguing with nondenominationalists who are emphatically nondenominational and proud of it.

reality is, most protestants are very similar. among the mainline denoms, they are virtually identical in theology and practice, and people slip easily among them.

The more evangelical and fundamentalist groups are also very similar among themselves, and have only a few differences from the mainline denominations.

some of the sects and cults are unique, though, but there are only a few of them.

so I think the 30,000 figure is very high, at least according to the nonscholarly way I classify the denims. YMMV.

 

[wow]

I think this depends on how you define dnomination.

some peopel think that every separate group of worshipers is a denomination, and say there are around 30,000 of them.

personally I don’t like that definition, although it is useful when arguing with nondenominationalists who are emphatically nondenominational and proud of it.

reality is, most protestants are very similar. among the mainline denoms, they are virtually identical in theology and practice, and people slip easily among them.

The more evangelical and fundamentalist groups are also very similar among themselves, and have only a few differences from the mainline denominations.

some of the sects and cults are unique, though, but there are only a few of them.

so I think the 30,000 figure is very high, at least according to the nonscholarly way I classify the denims. YMMV.

I’ve read recently that there were between 33,000 and 35,000 protestant denominations. I can’t remember the exact book I got the information from but I do remember it discussed Sola Scriptura as the reason.

I’ve also heard the same numbers referred to in a debate with Tim Staples and Jesse Romero debating some people from Cavalry Chapel (which began in 1984).

 

[traillius]

I feel great compassion for the non-catholic christians, So divided…
Imagine you have a menu with 35001 options. Only one is the original and best, and the rest just poor variations.
" unity? "

 

[J_C]

I’ve read recently that there were between 33,000 and 35,000 protestant denominations. I can’t remember the exact book I got the information from but I do remember it discussed Sola Scriptura as the reason.

I’ve also heard the same numbers referred to in a debate with Tim Staples and Jesse Romero debating some people from Cavalry Chapel (which began in 1984).

yes, I hear this all the time, but I disagree with it. and I am not the only one. This subject has come up before.

I think it is an unfotunate exaggeration. by using the high number, we force the argument to be over the definition of denomination rather than the failure of protestantism.

first define denomination, then go from there. It all depends on how you define that term. personally I subscribe to a definition, one that is mainly about theological forms, that limits the number of denominations to at most a few hundred.

If you go by a definition that says that ever separate group, no matter how big or small, or how similar their theologies, is a denomination, then the 30,000 figure is probably accurate. but I personally don’t like that definition because it overlooks the FACT that most of these denominations are for all intents and purposes, identical.

 

[traillius]

Even if there were only 10,000, that would still be a boggling number. Our lord and lady must be scratching their heads.
Only ONE church has been around the whole time since Christ left. And that is the only church not founded by a human.

 

[traillius]

and I use the term " only " loosely and in a relative sense.

 

[Syele]

There are million threads about this.

Catholics swearing by the 33,000 number, Some saying its really millions cause every individual is a denomination and its so sad, And everyone should accept Barrett as an authority on the defintion of Denomination cause he is Protestant Mathematician after all! You can look up all those threads if you like. I know at least one I started was 20 some odd pages.

I believe that the poor protestant who sifts through 100s of thousands of options very Sunday trying to figure out which one is right is a mythical creature invented for Drama in debate. Having trouble convincing someone there are problems with sola scriptura, or that the pope is the product of apostolic succession? Can’t convince that protestant that they are their own pope? Pull out the old 30,000 denominations argument!

Beyond that I have found over the years that Catholics are just as diverse in many many ways. Yes you have a core set of things all Catholics believe that is larger than that of Protestants, but that does not negate diversity.

There are Roman Catholics, Orthodox Catholics, Eastern Catholics, Charismatic Catholics, “High Church”, “Low Church”, then you have that Catholics can be Molinist or Thomist or believe in Augustinianism, Congruism, or Syncretism. thats close to 10 Types of Catholic and That is off the top of my head. I’m sure I didn’t list all of them, I probably never heard of all of them. That is not even touching on cafeteria “catholics” or “Catholic” parishes with insane priests who allow clown masses or who tell me who is and who isn’t going to hell. Cause you’d just claim they were Abuses, yet I love to see their reaction if you went in and declared they are all Protestants.

Which one should I goto? You don’t really care cause they are all accepted as being “in unity” (Though you may probably tell me to avoid the clown mass).

The truth is that most protestants believe they are in “unity” to a great degree with the other Protestants Just as the Catholics do. All the Denominations of my town recently had another week of services all mixed together they rotated between the larger church buildings and the convention center. there is no bickering amongst ourselves everyone is happy to worship together. So what if we had no band at the Church of Christ or that people clapped raised their hands in the air in the convention center? those things simply weren’t seen as a big deal.

I cannot relate to your (You being whoever wants to push these arguments) arguments about how sad the lack of unity is in protestantism . Your posts about how many thousands of Protestant divisions there are make me think only of how superior you think you must be in order to believe that different names and a bit of diversity (the latter of which you have among your own beliefs!) mean we are so divided we are all hopelessly against God or something.

Diversity in Protestantism came from a Catholic Heritage! the only difference is that you claim all yours are “in communion with Rome” Or whatever. I don’t get why you don’t see that there is not a bigger difference between Charismatic Protestants and Hymn singing Protestants there there is between Charismatic Catholics and Hymn singing Catholics. A local baptist Church has an 8am worship time with all old hymns and a 9am with all contemporary music and a 11am with all country gospel type music. Your friend Barrett would have labeled them 3 different churches! Give me a break.

 

[ralphinal]

We ahd a thread like this a while back, and it seems like one of the non-Catholic posters classified the groups by major affiliation, and it lead to around 25 or so major groups. Now, there can be big variation within those groups (not all baptists are the same). Still, 25 is more than the one that Jesus prayed for.

 

[Steadfast]

yes, I hear this all the time, but I disagree with it. and I am not the only one. This subject has come up before.

I think it is an unfotunate exaggeration. by using the high number, we force the argument to be over the definition of denomination rather than the failure of protestantism.

first define denomination, then go from there. It all depends on how you define that term. personally I subscribe to a definition, one that is mainly about theological forms, that limits the number of denominations to at most a few hundred.

If you go by a definition that says that ever separate group, no matter how big or small, or how similar their theologies, is a denomination, then the 30,000 figure is probably accurate. but I personally don’t like that definition because it overlooks the FACT that most of these denominations are for all intents and purposes, identical.

Good stuff.

The number of denominations out there is pretty subjectively arrived at, I put it at about 5.

 

[ralphinal]

Good stuff.

The number of denominations out there is pretty subjectively arrived at, I put it at about 5.

Wow, that seems a little low to me, How did you get that number?

 

[Steadfast]

1. Orthodox (inc. Oriental)
2. Catholic
3. High Church Protestants
4. Low Church Protestants
5. Free Church Protestants

 

[Steadfast]

Or, maybe just 5 varieties of Protestant:

1. Lutheran
2. Anglican
3. Reformed (inc. Presbyterians)
4. Free Church (Baptist, Pentecostals, etc.)
5. Pietists (Mennonites, Amish etc.)

 

[ralphinal]

Or, maybe just 5 varieties of Protestant:

1. Lutheran
2. Anglican
3. Reformed (inc. Presbyterians)
4. Free Church (Baptist, Pentecostals, etc.)
5. Pietists (Mennonites, Amish etc.)

OK. SO you are not dividing them further on doctrine, such as baptism. I see how you got the number now.

 

[wow]

While the numbers are not as high as being discussed, according to Wikipedia, there’s a few more than 5.

Yet, here’s another website that lists 39796.

With either source, the lists are way more than I think the Lord intended there to be.

 

[Lilyflower]

I’ve read recently that there were between 33,000 and 35,000 protestant denominations. I can’t remember the exact book I got the information from but I do remember it discussed Sola Scriptura as the reason.

I’ve also heard the same numbers referred to in a debate with Tim Staples and Jesse Romero debating some people from Cavalry Chapel (which began in 1984).

Iv’e heared the figure 35,000

 

[Steadfast]

the problem seems to be that the more we talk about how divided we are, the more divided we become…

I’m not saying we can ignore our differences, but lets not choose to die on EVERY hilltop.

 

[ralphinal]

the problem seems to be that the more we talk about how divided we are, the more divided we become…

I’m not saying we can ignore our differences, but lets not choose to die on EVERY hilltop.

Amen.

I think you and I talked once about “minor” and “major” issues and we agreed that there is always someone who sees any particular issue as “major.”

People love saying things like unity in major, liberty in minor but noone can say which is which.

 

[paarsurrey]

Hi

I would like to see all the denominations of CatholicsProtestants united into one UnitedChristendom with a peaceful dialogue. This is in the interest of the world peace and humanity.

Thanks

 

[c659smith]

Hi

I would like to see all the denominations of CatholicsProtestants united into one UnitedChristendom with a peaceful dialogue. This is in the interest of the world peace and humanity.

Thanks

So why do you not abandon Islam --(the faith to no path to heaven) and follow in Christ’s footsteps and direction so that you to can share and worship one day in heaven in the Glory of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.