I laughed so hard, I inhaled a piece of bowtie pasta & choked till I turned all shades of purple. Go easy on those smilie faces, you could hurt someone. Peace. -TexProtestant apologist Eric Svendsen has taken exception to this statistical study, or rather to those who don’t read it his way, and has concluded that are are actually only 8,196 Protestant denominations.
Only 8,196
thats not many, us Catholics are totally out numbered 
Shibboleth,
Good Day, JMJThis is a spin-off from The Real Luther thread.
An article in the April 16, 2001 Newsweek magazine, that documents the rapid growth of separate, competing, and conflicting Protestant denominations in the world, reports the number of denominations as 33,820.
Newsweek’s source for this number is the World Christian Encyclopedia by David Barrett (2001 edition), where it appears on page 10 of Volume 1. (In 1970, a similar statistical study by Barrett gave the number of denominations as 26,350.) The 2001 figure is broken down as 11,830 traditional denominations and 21,990 paradenominations. He divides Christianity into (Roman) Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant (Barrett is an Anglican clergyman). So if an organization does not belong in one of the first three categories, it’s Protestant. Barrett has some statistical definitions and breakdowns which must be taken into account.
Protestant apologist Eric Svendsen has taken exception to this statistical study, or rather to those who don’t read it his way, and has concluded that are are actually only 8,196 Protestant denominations. He criticizes Catholic apologists for using the larger number, though they most likely get it from publications like Newsweek. I doubt that every apologist has a copy of the statistical study, which costs a couple of hundred dollars or more.
I don’t agree with Svendsen limited definition of “Protestant,” but as I told him (in 2001?), 8,196 Protestant denominations are plenty, plenty to prove the fallacy of Sola Scriptura. :whacky:
JMJ Jay
Remember Barrett’s definition of “denomination”? Here it is again: “Any agency consisting of a number of congregations or churches voluntarily aligning themselves with it. 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.” (emphasis added)
Well, the various denominations might not say it but this is exactly how I feel. Do I think that the Lutheran Church is 100% correct in all of their proclamations and interpretations? No, absolutely not… Nor do I think that any Church can make that bold of claim, but as I have said many times before this could very well be my problem and not the Churches.Shibboleth,
After this surprising admission, which is all too obviously true, tell us why all Protestant denominations claim that what they teach in each of their thousands of competing and conflicting doctrines is ABSOLUTE TRUTH? And why none of them says, ‘Maybe we’re right, maybe we’re wrong, but come and worship with us just in case we’ve got it right. Nobody knows for sure who’s right. We’ve all got our own interpretation. But ours is as good as any. And – we’ve got a workout room.’
JMJ Jay
I was informed that the old NTRM forum format began in February, 2002 and the new format in November of the same year. Out of curiosity, do you have any of Eric’s responses to your critique of his article?
In other words, there is no ‘capital T’ TRUTH in Christianity. Christianity is a guessing game. Christianity is a revealed religion, but there is no way to know what God revealed. The heavens opened and a collection of books fell out, in the red letter, leather-bound edition, and God said, "This is my Word – and it’s all you need to know for your salvation – figure out what it means for yourself."
**I agree with your assessments of people – except myself
. **
**The Georgians? Everyone always forgets the Georgians.
Found at:
I’m always happy to be corrected, Neil. Thanks. I guess many who discuss the autonomous ritual churches haven’t gotten the word either. Here are some of my sources (they all give the number as 22):
To which Katholikos responded:
I don’t see anyone here truly interacting with Eric Svendsen’s excellent article found here, but are content on recreating the argument to suit the palate and, of course, imposing double standards as well. So, with that in mind, Eric had answered much of the “recreation” in a subsequent article found here: 30,000 Protestant Denominations- Revisited.
Understood. Which discussion group was this? CARM? Christian Forums? RTWFC? Do you have copies of your dialogue including his responses to them?
I’m sure you can agree that I wouldn’t go by what “Newsweek” determines as “Protestant.” I don’t see this magazine as understanding the issues enough in determining what comprises Protestantism. To them, if it isn’t Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or a World Religion (Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.), and if it uses Christian tenets to any extent, it is therefore Protestant. So that would include Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, etc. as “Protestants” rather than pseudo-Christian cults. This would also include churches that break up due to disagreement over décor, administration, etc. and, by the statement above regarding “storefronts” and “home” churches, you’re assuming that these churches aren’t affiliated with other established denominations in an obvious attempt to “pad the numbers.” By the same token, I don’t accept your rationalisms of what comprises Protestantism because you seem willing to accept anything that “splinters” Protestantism into the numbers you claim, yet excuse the glaring double-standards inflicted when Catholicism is put under the same microscope. I don’t know the extent of your dialogue with Eric, but you haven’t provided anything here refuting his article in the least.
Actually, isn’t it you who are trying to prove something? I’m just trying to get information on your dialogue with Eric.
It’s Eric Svendsen’s website. You’ll also find Pastor David T. King there as well. The discussion forum is found here: The Areopagus If you have any problems with his article then go to the source. I’m sure he will indulge you providing you know what you’re talking about. You’re more than welcome to participate
