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2 Questions: how many Christian denominations are there .. based on what & sourse
- Thread starter twin.spin
- Start date
I didn't think you'd actually do it! Although there are certainly less than 30,000 listed there.Many of those I am not familiar with. But there are a few that are suspect, one being the United Church of Christ, which does not require a confession of the Trinity. Also, many of those listed under Pentecostalism are suspect because some may be asscoiated with Oneness Pentecostalism which is not Christian.
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Many of those I am not familiar with. But there are a few that are suspect, one being the United Church of Christ, which does not require a confession of the Trinity. Also, many of those listed under Pentecostalism are suspect because some may be asscoiated with Oneness Pentecostalism which is not Christian.
The reason I did is because I'm one of the e-mail reponders from TILM (Truth in Love Ministries) and deal with this issue. One of the foundational arguments for a "restored" church by Mormons is for this very list.
You might find it amusing .... I use it for reaching the lost.
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From my research over the years, such statistics use a sociological definition of denomination, not theological. In that respect, while one may question theology of the listing of the UCC, it meets the sociological requirements. Thus, there even more than what you have posted.
Some are difficult to classify that way. For instance, Seventh Day Adventist, has traditionally been considered a Christian denomination, while LDS, and branches from it, are not, being classified as cults theologically, not necessarily sociologically.
The old joke: What do you have when you have two Baptists (Lutherans, etc.)? A church. What do you have with three Baptists (Lutherans, etc.)? Two churches.
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So when the mormons quote a number like that (30,000) they are using neither a sociological definition or theological of a denomination?
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Those who reject Jesus as the Christ and as God are not members of the church...according to what God tells us in scripture.
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bach90
Evangelical Catholic
In my mind there are 5 major "groups." Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Reformed.
Lutherans would be any church commonly recognized as Lutheran and it's related branches like the Moravians and Hussites.
- Bible, Book of Concord.
Roman Catholic would be any of the 23 sui iuris Churches that are loyal to the Bishop of Rome.
- Pope, Magisterium, Tradition, Scripture.
Eastern Orthodox would be those Churches in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople and those who claim it (a couple of groups like the OCA are working on full communion with Constantinople.)
- 7 Ecumenical Councils
Anglicans would be any of the Churches in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Although they are theologically different, Methodists have their origins in the Anglican Church. Many of these churches have gone off the deep end though and are no longer even true churches (the Episcopal church has now voted to allow "transperson" ordination).
- Thirty-nine Articles, Bible, Tradition (in some)...a Methodist would also argue for their own spiritual feelings and experience as being a source of truth.
Reformed would be any of the Churches which hold to a Calvinist theology. Generally they have a Presbyterian polity.
- Bible, Westminster Confession of Faith.
Some Baptists would be reformed...some would have their roots in the Anglican church though. You could make them a sixth group...but they don't have a common theology.
- "Soul Liberty" and the Bible.
Lutherans would be any church commonly recognized as Lutheran and it's related branches like the Moravians and Hussites.
- Bible, Book of Concord.
Roman Catholic would be any of the 23 sui iuris Churches that are loyal to the Bishop of Rome.
- Pope, Magisterium, Tradition, Scripture.
Eastern Orthodox would be those Churches in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople and those who claim it (a couple of groups like the OCA are working on full communion with Constantinople.)
- 7 Ecumenical Councils
Anglicans would be any of the Churches in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Although they are theologically different, Methodists have their origins in the Anglican Church. Many of these churches have gone off the deep end though and are no longer even true churches (the Episcopal church has now voted to allow "transperson" ordination).
- Thirty-nine Articles, Bible, Tradition (in some)...a Methodist would also argue for their own spiritual feelings and experience as being a source of truth.
Reformed would be any of the Churches which hold to a Calvinist theology. Generally they have a Presbyterian polity.
- Bible, Westminster Confession of Faith.
Some Baptists would be reformed...some would have their roots in the Anglican church though. You could make them a sixth group...but they don't have a common theology.
- "Soul Liberty" and the Bible.
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- Dec 8, 2007
- 30,973
- 5,800
- Country
- Canada
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Lutheran
- Marital Status
- Married
There is also the Oriental Orthodox (not in union with Constantinople); and the Utrecht Union.
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Dogear,
Depends on the perspective. IMO yes and no.
No because what it does is keep us diligent to keep searching the scriptures to determine what God says vs what human says. Also it shows that false teachings will eventually go its own way and the truth will be preserved by God.
Yes..because the more "dangereous" false teachers are the ones who mix truth & falsehood and carry away with them victims when they eventually go. And the more keeps on getting peeled away, the less and less those who have the truth become. And no one (though Jesus said times were to get worse) wants to see people compromising the truth to maybe the point of losing one's faith.
Depends on the perspective. IMO yes and no.
No because what it does is keep us diligent to keep searching the scriptures to determine what God says vs what human says. Also it shows that false teachings will eventually go its own way and the truth will be preserved by God.
Yes..because the more "dangereous" false teachers are the ones who mix truth & falsehood and carry away with them victims when they eventually go. And the more keeps on getting peeled away, the less and less those who have the truth become. And no one (though Jesus said times were to get worse) wants to see people compromising the truth to maybe the point of losing one's faith.
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bach90
Evangelical Catholic
The Oriental Orthodox have some serious Christological issues. Namely, Nestorianism. I can't hold their confession of faith to be Christian, though we use similar creeds.
Utrecht, the Old Catholics, are caught in between Rome and Canterbury. I believe they are in full communion with most Anglican Churches.
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Dogear
Love all
twin.spin,
I happened to go to Europe over the summer. I got a chance to go inside many orthodox Catholic churches, the Notre Dame, and others like it. I saw signs up and many people selling things from inside the church. "2 EU for a candle and your sins to be forgiven". Made me a little upset, I was about to pull a John 2:19 on them XD.
I understand why Luther broke away from these churches now. I only caught glimpses of these occurrences, but it surely made me wonder if there really is this type of 'skiving' going on in God's houses.
After the trip, I began to read the Bible heavily again, and focus entirely on the power and grace of God.
I happened to go to Europe over the summer. I got a chance to go inside many orthodox Catholic churches, the Notre Dame, and others like it. I saw signs up and many people selling things from inside the church. "2 EU for a candle and your sins to be forgiven". Made me a little upset, I was about to pull a John 2:19 on them XD.
I understand why Luther broke away from these churches now. I only caught glimpses of these occurrences, but it surely made me wonder if there really is this type of 'skiving' going on in God's houses.
After the trip, I began to read the Bible heavily again, and focus entirely on the power and grace of God.
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Dogear,
That must have been exciting anyway to go to Europe.
That is encouraging to hear your reaction and what you did after the trip.
There was a show on one of the religious stations many years ago of a lady who was an accomplished organist (which my wife has several of organ pieces that she wrote) who played in the many of the Cathedrals... just from that, it was quite a sight to see. But she too commented just how "empty" they are. Sad to realize that.
Yes... stay focused on the power and grace of God.
That must have been exciting anyway to go to Europe.
That is encouraging to hear your reaction and what you did after the trip.
There was a show on one of the religious stations many years ago of a lady who was an accomplished organist (which my wife has several of organ pieces that she wrote) who played in the many of the Cathedrals... just from that, it was quite a sight to see. But she too commented just how "empty" they are. Sad to realize that.
Yes... stay focused on the power and grace of God.
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