The Denominations Myth

[Apologiaphoenix]

Are there really 30,000+ denominations of Christianity?

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How many denominations are there? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

Have you ever heard the claim about how many denominations there are in Protestantism? This is used by people in Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and even atheists and agnostics. The former against Protestantism and the latter against Christianity. How can anyone take Christianity seriously when there are so many different groups?

The number is often exaggerated and without looking at the source for it. Any high number should be viewed with suspicion, especially if it goes into the tens of thousands. Still, this claim is not without some evidence behind it and even this from a valid source.

If you look at The World Encyclopedia of Christianity you will find that it does indeed say there are over 30,000 denominations. Well, time to pack it up and go home. After all, we're way too divided if that's the case.

While there is some division, it is not as much as one would think at a closer look. The division is into six major ecclesiastical blocks. It's strange how that isn't the first position cited. Actually, no. No, it's not. Many people wanting to use arguments without checking their source thoroughly will go with something that falls along their biases. We are all guilty of this tendency and we must all check ourselves.

This is a list of these kinds of groups. If you look, you will find that Orthodoxy and Catholicism both have a number of denominations listed in them. This is based on the kinds of rites that they follow. It's doubtful whether any practitioner of these traditions thinks that these all count as different denominations.

Some denominations are also based on a particular need. Consider the case of a Korean church for instance. They want a church that speaks their language and understands their culture. Their beliefs could be identical to the Baptist church down the street in terms of doctrine, but they would still be another denomination.

Also, consider that in a city like mine, Atlanta, you could have churches in different areas that are independent Baptist. These are not tied to a hierarchial order. Suppose they all have the same beliefs doctrinally, but they are far apart because this is a big city and not everyone wants to drive fifty miles or however much it is to get to church. Each of these would count as one denomination.

Someone might say, "Well, Nick. Of course, you're going to say this. You're a Protestant." Fair enough, but first off, that doesn't deal with the evidence I present. Second, it doesn't deal with the fact that a Roman Catholic writer also recognizes the problem. Does this show that Catholicism or Orthodoxy are incorrect? Not at all. It does show that this is a bad argument for their position, just as there are bad arguments for Christianity, Protestantism, Sola Scriptura, and any other position.

For a humorous look at this, I recommend also the video my ministry partner, J.P. Holding made.

In Christ,
Nick Peters

[rogue06]

To say that number (and different sources give different numbers that result in tens of thousands in difference) is grossly inflated is an understatement and the methodology employed to arrive at these figures is ridiculous. It is based on a radically open definition of what "denomination" is. For instance under the definition used to arrive at that number if there two independent Baptist churches on each side of the street, each one of them is considered a different denomination. In fact every independent Baptist church is deemed to be a different denomination by the definition used to arrive at this figure.

The numbers for the World Christian Encyclopedia list was supplied by the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and it is telling how they arrived at their claims which can be found in the Methodology from the Atlas of Global Christianity resource (smiley hat tip.gif to Adrift)

Source: Methodology from the Atlas of Global Christianity

First, for each major tradition, a denomination present in more than one country was counted as one denomination per each country. Thus, for example, the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia was considered a separate denomination from the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan. Second, the Anglican tradition was considered to consist of one denomination in each country in which it is present (169 in all). Third, the Roman Catholic Church was considered to consist of 239 denominations; however, about half of all Christians globally are Roman Catholics.

© Copyright Original Source

So they count as a different denomination for each country they are in. IOW, Catholics in the U.S. are a different denomination than those in Mexico. And both are different denominations from those in Spain. And the Catholics in France are a separate denomination than the Catholics in the U.S., Mexico and Spain. And on and on.

Further, within Roman Catholicism there are claimed to be a number of different "denominations" since those that cobble together these lists tend to call the various orders within it separate denominations. They all follow Roman Catholic teachings but have differences that could almost be called cosmetic. That's like going to two Southern Baptist, or Methodist or Lutheran churches across town from one another and noticing the differences in how they do things and then declaring them separate denominations.

Moreover, every single Bible society or church club is also considered to be a different denomination than the church or churches that it is affiliated with.

Finally, many groups that aren't even Christian often get added in to help inflate the number. Some are Christian denominations in the same way that Islam is a Christian or Jewish denomination

If you want to understand just how ridiculous this figure is try to name just twenty Christian denominations from memory alone. If there were tens of thousands of them someone shouldn't have any difficulty rattling off a hundred so a mere twenty ought to be a real breeze.

[One Bad Pig]

I agree, that number is grossly inflated. However, that does not negate the fact that Protestants have never been united, and many eschew identifying with a denomination altogether. All Protestants have is the notion of a "spiritual church" without even an agreed-upon idea of who's in it.

[37818]

Even correcting the inflation of the number of Christian denominations, Christianity still has more sects than any other world religion.

[rogue06]

I agree, that number is grossly inflated. However, that does not negate the fact that Protestants have never been united, and many eschew identifying with a denomination altogether. All Protestants have is the notion of a "spiritual church" without even an agreed-upon idea of who's in it.

Never miss a chance to bash Protestantism do you?

ETA: Sorry that came out a lot harsher than I meant it

[LeaC]

Even correcting the inflation of the number of Christian denominations, Christianity still has more sects than any other world religion.

I don't know that this means Christianity has more philosophical differences than any other world religion, though. I know that not all Muslims agree with each other, for one, but not whether that disagreement has been formalized into anything resembling 'denominations.' Logically, I'm sure there are disagreements among the practitioners of other faiths. But while some points of disagreement between Christian denominations are critical, not all of them are. My choice of denomination(Episcopal) over the one I grew up with(Methodist) had to do with a personal preference for "high church" services and their particular philosophical approach(at least, as it was explained to me by the Episcopal church). There are other differences(not that many, given the common roots), but none of them are anything I would hang my faith on, so to speak.

[One Bad Pig]

Never miss a chance to bash Protestantism do you?

ETA: Sorry that came out a lot harsher than I meant it

It can be difficult to maintain equanimity when one's own ox is gored.

Seriously, though, my intent was not to bash - just to point out facts which IMO are problematic for Protestantism. I do try to avoid bashing my Protestant brethren and sistren here, but I am, after all, a bad pig, and some invitations can be difficult to pass up.

[rogue06]

It can be difficult to maintain equanimity when one's own ox is gored.

Meh. Baptists are borderline Protestant's at most.

Seriously, though, my intent was not to bash - just to point out facts which IMO are problematic for Protestantism. I do try to avoid bashing my Protestant brethren and sistren here, but I am, after all, a bad pig, and some invitations can be difficult to pass up.

And turning you into something better (bacon) is also something difficult to pass up.

Here piggy, piggy. Sooey, sooey

[Littlejoe]

Working for the last 12 years in Kairos Prison Ministry, which is very ecumenical, has shown me we have much more in common than we do differences. I learned that if we simply put aside our differences and focus on our commonality, that great things can be accomplished in the name of Jesus Christ. We go into the Unit representing the Christian Faith, and leave all denominations outside.

[rogue06]

Working for the last 12 years in Kairos Prison Ministry, which is very ecumenical, has shown me we have much more in common than we do differences. I learned that if we simply put aside our differences and focus on our commonality, that great things can be accomplished in the name of Jesus Christ. We go into the Unit representing the Christian Faith, and leave all denominations outside.

A lot of military chaplains have learned similar lessons.

[37818]

I don't know that this means Christianity has more philosophical differences than any other world religion, though. I know that not all Muslims agree with each other, for one, but not whether that disagreement has been formalized into anything resembling 'denominations.' Logically, I'm sure there are disagreements among the practitioners of other faiths. But while some points of disagreement between Christian denominations are critical, not all of them are. My choice of denomination(Episcopal) over the one I grew up with(Methodist) had to do with a personal preference for "high church" services and their particular philosophical approach(at least, as it was explained to me by the Episcopal church). There are other differences(not that many, given the common roots), but none of them are anything I would hang my faith on, so to speak.

There are more Baptist sects than non-baptist Protestants sects. How so? Each Baptist church without a Baptist denomination association is a sect unto itself. And this is besides the fact Baptist churches within an association are nevertheless each an autonomous sect.

[QuantaFille]

This topic is something the Mormon missionaries always bring up when they knock on my door. It surprises them when I say that I count most of these denominations as part of the universal church. I tell them that there are basic beliefs that make one a Christian, and if you don't follow those beliefs you're not Christian, hence my rejection of the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. They don't know what to say to that.

[One Bad Pig]

Meh. Baptists are more Protestant's than most.

FTFY, n/c. I'll be courteous and assume you don't fall for the "Trail of Blood" codswallop. Baptists tend to make most "Protestants" look like conformists by comparison.

studiously ignoring the extraneous apostrophe

[37818]

This topic is something the Mormon missionaries always bring up when they knock on my door. It surprises them when I say that I count most of these denominations as part of the universal church. I tell them that there are basic beliefs that make one a Christian, and if you don't follow those beliefs you're not Christian, hence my rejection of the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. They don't know what to say to that.

Genuine Christianity has more counterfeits than any other religious group. Genuine Christians know God and know with certainty that they now have eternal life and upon physical death they know they will be in Heaven present with the Lord.

[37818]

FTFY, n/c. I'll be courteous and assume you don't fall for the "Trail of Blood" codswallop. Baptists tend to make most "Protestants" look like conformists by comparison.

studiously ignoring the extraneous apostrophe

One tenet that all Baptists have in common or they are not really Baptists is that the 66 book Bible is the sole final authority in all matters of faith and practice of the genuine Christian faith. The Christian New Testament is the only apostolic tradition that has been handed down with certainty.