Number of Christian denominations tops 41,000

[CopticChristian]

Since many individual Protestant churches are congregational, one could with justification say that each was a denomination unto itself. As FabiusMaximus pointed out, for many it is a matter of church governance, not of difference in theology or ecclesiology. By the same criteria, there is not one Catholic Church, but many: Eastern Rite, Latin Rite, Maronite, Serbian, Polish, etc., and the same would be true of the Orthodox churches.

Now, as to the claim that there is only one True Church, let me remind you from the book of Acts, chapter 15, that one of the first conferences in Jerusalem established that there would be two denominations with different practices. One was to follow Jewish practice and the other not. It was a continuing struggle for Paul to keep the Judiazers from encroaching on his missions by demanding that all Christians subscribe to Jewish practice. On a further note, when Paul came upon groups of Christians who had practices at variance with his, even those with base ulterior motives, he called not for acceptance, but for rejoicing as long as the Gospel was preached (Phillipians 1:15-18). I hope you do not think me anti-Catholic for these statements, because this statement weighs just as heavily on those who claim that Catholic Church is not Christian. Since the Catholic Church as taught the Gospel for 2 millenia, there should be rejoicing, not condemnation from all other Christians.

Oldtimer,

I am going to disagree with you. Paul often says a very positive inclusive statement before explaining his reason for writing.

In the letter to the Romans Pauls says this…

7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

If their Faith is spoke of to all the world then why is he writing to discuss the obedience of Faith?

Paul lays the groundwork for commonality however does not celebrate diversity…he says

15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice

1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

**17Brethren, be followers together of me, **and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

2I **beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in **the Lord. 3And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

This is how Paul works. It is like me addressing a group of people that I want to explain something to.

**I want to welcome you all here today. I know you took time off from your jobs and left your families to hear me speak. I am so proud to say that you workers are the backbone of this country.

Now concerning your work. Some of you are coming in late. Others I see are taking breaks when they should not. I noticed some of you don’t call in sick.**

Same idea.

 

[CopticChristian]

Unfortunately, some are sarcastic. It is against forum rules to mock other religions and I have recieved and infraction here for that.

The point being made however, is that without a central authority, any deviation in belief becomes its own denomination. One could argue that every non-Catholic is his or her own denomination. Sadly, some within the Catholic Church have set themselves up as such.

I think this could lead us down a road where we argue semantics of the words **denomination vs. movement. **

-Tim-

It would depend on how it is defined…just look at the trouble Arlo Guthrie had…

And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and walking out. They may think it’s an
organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said
fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and
walking out. And friends they may thinks it’s a movement.

 

[LayingHands]

washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/are-mormons-christian-its-complicated/2012/01/19/gIQAS6jpBQ_story.html

The article is on the debate over whether or not Mormonism is Christian, but that is not the topic of this thread. In the course of the article the writer cites The Atlas of Global Christianity to the effect that there are 41,000 Christian denominations. And the splits just keep on coming. . .

And do they all believe in One Almighty GOD and His only begotten Son?

 

[Publisher]

washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/are-mormons-christian-its-complicated/2012/01/19/gIQAS6jpBQ_story.html

The article is on the debate over whether or not Mormonism is Christian, but that is not the topic of this thread. In the course of the article the writer cites The Atlas of Global Christianity to the effect that there are 41,000 Christian denominations. And the splits just keep on coming. . .

Question…if the 41k denominations is “true”…don’t they include the Catholic church and some of it’s juridictions as a “denomination”? If the article is being touted as ‘accurate’…do we assume this ‘accuracy’ applies to the various denominations which are Catholic?

 

[adf417]

And do they all believe in One Almighty GOD and His only begotten Son?

Which brings me to this on a privious point:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=8847431#post8847431

 

[GWright]

For a long time, I thought there was approx 50,000 protestant denominations.

Recenly someone told me 70,000.

So, 41,000 is a lot less than I had thought, but still so many that they have an inherent lack of credibility.

 

[Oldtimer_7]

CopticChristian, you are certainly right about Paul following Greek letter-writing practices. In most of his letters, he begins with a greeting. He then states his plans for the letter, then expands on them and ends with personal messages.

Thank your for extending the quotation that I mentioned. It can also be seen as him calling for lessening internal strife within a congregation. Every congregation has them. Daniel Harrington, S.J. in his book Paul’s Prison Letters, says the Jewish presence at Phillipi was too small to have a synagogue, so the Christian community must have been miniscule. Any division among so small a group could be the death knell.

As I am writing, my wife is practicing piano to play for a church that just went through such a crisis. In fact, she is playing “So Sheep May Safely Graze”, which is entirely appropriate to this discussion. Harrington says that the likely opponents who wish him ill are most likely Jewish Christians. We have, therefore, his recognition that, even though he does not want his congregation to be led into that body, he recognizes that God’s work is still done through them as they are proclaiming the Gospel. We may deduce from this that Paul was not a proponent of the One-Church idea.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Wow that’s what happens when you throw the Pope, The Magisterium of the Church, and Sacred Tradition out the window. Who then is the authority of what one should believe? If I don’t like your beliefs and I think everyone should believe my way, I’ll just start my own church.

It seems like the denominations are multiplying on a fast rate now. So much unrest and disunity among Christians. Let us pray that all may be united according to God’s Will.

Don’t they know that everyone in heaven will be Catholic? There may be 41,000 denominations of Christians, but in heaven there will be only one Church, and that Church is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

 

[publicdj]

washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/are-mormons-christian-its-complicated/2012/01/19/gIQAS6jpBQ_story.html

The article is on the debate over whether or not Mormonism is Christian, but that is not the topic of this thread. In the course of the article the writer cites The Atlas of Global Christianity to the effect that there are 41,000 Christian denominations. And the splits just keep on coming. . .

Most all of those denoms. can be directly put under about 7 or 8 churches. In actually there are not 41,000 different interps. of the Bible nor 41,000 different doctrines. It’s all a bit misleading.

 

[DaveBj]

Most all of those denoms. can be directly put under about 7 or 8 churches. In actually there are not 41,000 different interps. of the Bible nor 41,000 different doctrines. It’s all a bit misleading.

Within Baptist-ism alone there are more than 7 or 8 widely varying groups. Any group that varies enough to exclude others on any point, however miniscule, constitutes a division within Christianity (so-called).

 

[andrewstx]

Most all of those denoms. can be directly put under about 7 or 8 churches. In actually there are not 41,000 different interps. of the Bible nor 41,000 different doctrines. It’s all a bit misleading.

But… just in Anglicanism there are different churches held together with the BCP.

In Australia there are ultra-evangelicals who call their priests ministers and lobby for lay celebration of the Eucharist.

There is high church, low church, Anglo Catholics. Very liberal and very conservative. People who venerate Our Lady at Walsingham. And Virginia churchmen in the US.

People who think Apostolic Succesion is vital, and others who think AS is good in a way. And can live without it.

Ask I dozen Anglicans and you get a dozen opinions all as valid in Anglicanism.

 

[publicdj]

But… just in Anglicanism there are different churches held together with the BCP.

In Australia there are ultra-evangelicals who call their priests ministers and lobby for lay celebration of the Eucharist.

There is high church, low church, Anglo Catholics. Very liberal and very conservative. People who venerate Our Lady at Walsingham. And Virginia churchmen in the US.

People who think Apostolic Succesion is vital, and others who think AS is good in a way. And can live without it.

Ask I dozen Anglicans and you get a dozen opinions all as valid in Anglicanism.

Nothing wrong with any of them as far as I can see. Archbishop Cranmer once said (before he was barbecued by good ole’ Queen Mary) that wherever Scripture isn’t clear, we shouldn’t attempt to be clearer.

 

[publicdj]

Within Baptist-ism alone there are more than 7 or 8 widely varying groups. Any group that varies enough to exclude others on any point, however miniscule, constitutes a division within Christianity (so-called).

But are they not all Baptists or more correctly called Anabaptists?

 

[DaveBj]

But are they not all Baptists or more correctly called Anabaptists?

They’re Baptists, but with modifiers: Southern Baptists, Hard-Shell Baptists, Free-Will Baptists, etc.

 

[jlhargus]

41,000 is a misleading number.

For the most part, there are about six-ten major movements within Protestantism. Most of the so-called divisions are theologically-identical organization with simply autonomous governance. Most of those difference are about as relevant as the difference between Latin Rite and Greek Rite.

JL: Never the less they separate because of those differences into another denomination. Whereas different rites are united as one faith.

 

[Trebor135]

Most all of those denoms. can be directly put under about 7 or 8 churches. In actually there are not 41,000 different interps. of the Bible nor 41,000 different doctrines. It’s all a bit misleading.

I concur that the figure of forty-one thousand denominations should be discarded as inaccurate.

But if only seven or eight “umbrella churches” exist, why are there far more than seven or eight denominations out there? By now there should be many cases in which large groups of denominational “clans” with the same theology have signed agreements to unite with one another to form one overarching “tribe”.

 

[publicdj]

I concur that the figure of forty-one thousand denominations should be discarded as inaccurate.

But if only seven or eight “umbrella churches” exist, why are there far more than seven or eight denominations out there? By now there should be many cases in which large groups of denominational “clans” with the same theology have signed agreements to unite with one another to form one overarching “tribe”.

I think that is happening in some cases now.

 

[onemangang]

I would say, there is One True Church, all others have deviated from Her.

Say there be as few as 5 or 6 who have deviated from Rome in the time of the “Reformers” Now say, there thousands of factions of the “Reformed Tradition” The point remains the same, they all share a common thread that says No, to the One True Church.

It would be hard to even make the case for denominations of Baptist. You might be better off saying that many are factions of the Reformed Baptist Tradition. But some may be more Evangelical then Reformed, so how could you possibly group them back into the fold of Baptist? Precisely because, they might have rejected the Calvinist/Monergist view of soteriology and incorporated some traditional Methodist teachings into their Baptist Tradition. The melting pot of non-catholic Christianity is so mixed, that each may hold to teachings that are closer to another Tradition, then from the Tradition they came.

Never mind the “non-denominational evangelicals” Some of them are all over the map, borrowing from Luther here, Calvin here, Hodge there, Wesley there, Oral Roberts there, Chuck Smith here, and Rick Warren there. They then end up with some sort of Arminian/semi-palagian 3 1/3 point calvinist theology that screams Total depravity, Unconditional Election, Preseverance of the Saints, with a penal substitution atonement, yet say all men can be saved if they get baptized in the name of Jesus only?

How do you weed out the myriad of faith traditions in that crowd?

I would love to see the splintering effect that the “Reformers” produced, go in reverse. It would be much easier to reason with a handful of traditions, than thousands, but that to me looks impossible. Good thing with God ALL things are possible, even that

A Denomination is such a spurious term when it comes to The Church. Denomination implies that the separate collectively make up a sum equaling a whole. Holy Mother Church is Whole within Herself. :grouphug:

So to label them as 41,000 “Denominations” is insufficient.Those that have been baptized into Christ are part of the One True Church, imperfectly, whether they like it or not :stretcher:

St Augustine
"Your design clearly is to deprive Scripture of all authority and to make every man’s mind the authority of what he is to approve or disapprove of. This is not to be subject to Scripture, but to make Scripture subject to you. If you discard authority, to what, I beseech you, will you take yourself?" (Reply to Faustus the Manichaean, 32:19 [A.D. 400])

Answer to St. Augustine’s question by the onemangang. You take yourself to present day Christianity

 

[Anna_Scott]

washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/are-mormons-christian-its-complicated/2012/01/19/gIQAS6jpBQ_story.html

The article is on the debate over whether or not Mormonism is Christian, but that is not the topic of this thread. In the course of the article the writer cites The Atlas of Global Christianity to the effect that there are 41,000 Christian denominations. And the splits just keep on coming. . .

This again?? What do you hope to accomplish by posting these statistics?

Anna

 

[DaveBj]

This again?? What do you hope to accomplish by posting these statistics?

Anna

Just to provide an update for those who are interested in these kinds of things. If the topic offends you, why did you click on it?