What constitutes a Christian denomination?

[rogue06]

I remember in the OLD days, we used to have "Race Relations Sunday" the Sunday closest to Valentine's Day. Us white preachers "traded pulpits*" with black preachers, and I just know I had a LOT more fun preaching to black congregations than the black preachers had preaching to white congregations.




*I always thought that was funny, cause the pulpits actually stayed with their respective churches.

Did you ever do an "Al Gore"? You know, start slipping into stereotypical black Baptist preacher mode of speech.

[KingsGambit]

There aren't many Protestant churches in New York City so there are a lot of house churches there. Do they all count as their own individual denomination for these numbers?

[Catholicity]

Why do I only see the whole other denominations hate denomination A/B only on the internet?

Because its ok to be a hater on the interwebs when you have a mask to cover your identity?

[One Bad Pig]

Although the Russian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox are both autocephalous, they are in communion with one another and do not consider themselves denominations; they are both part of the universal church, like the other Orthodox jurisdictions in communion with them.

[One Bad Pig]

It's because it the ONLY place I see it.
I've never seen it happen on a large scale in any place where I've lived, and the "denominations" are pretty diverse.

You must not live near any Seventh Day Adventists.

[KingsGambit]

The Churches of Christ (who claim they are not a denomination because of the autonomy of the local churches, but I'm not so sure I'd say they're not) are fairly adamant about it. I had one friend in high school who was involved with them who gave me a book explaining why every other denomination was wrong. One of the book's big problems with the Baptists (which was me) was allowing instrumental music in worship.

I just kind of find it hard to believe it would take the church 1800 years and suddenly a group of people would get it perfect

[Boxing Pythagoras]

I just kind of find it hard to believe it would take the church 1800 years and suddenly a group of people would get it perfect

I've heard almost precisely the same statement from Catholics regarding the Reformation.

[KingsGambit]

I've heard almost precisely the same statement from Catholics regarding the Reformation.

Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda...

[37818]

http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a106.htm

Christianity has more sects than any other world religion. Of course not all are genuine Christianity.

[Cow Poke]

http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a106.htm

Christianity has more sects than any other world religion. Of course not all are genuine Christianity.

That's really splitting hairs. From that article .... "“Denominations. A denomination is defined in this Encyclopedia as an organized aggregate of worship centers or congregations of similar ecclesiastical tradition within a specific country..."

Anyway, what's the point?

[37818]

That's really splitting hairs. From that article .... "“Denominations. A denomination is defined in this Encyclopedia as an organized aggregate of worship centers or congregations of similar ecclesiastical tradition within a specific country..."

Anyway, what's the point?

Only things of perceived value are counterfeited.

[Cow Poke]

Only things of perceived value are counterfeited.

You have been sounding like a Chinese fortune cookie lately. Do you also provide lottery numbers?

[37818]

You have been sounding like a Chinese fortune cookie lately. <snip>

". . . For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. . . . For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. . . ." -- 2 Corinthians 11:4, 13.

". . . But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. . . ." -- Galatians 1:8

The first denomination and major cult was to become a state church and claimed itself as Catholic. Teaching water baptism was required to be born again. And the Lord's supper was required in order to have eternal life. Among other things.

[One Bad Pig]

The first denomination and major cult was to become a state church and claimed itself as Catholic. Teaching water baptism was required to be born again. And the Lord's supper was required in order to have eternal life. Among other things.

This is nearly completely incorrect. It's a topic for another thread, however.

[shunyadragon]

Many of those are cult groups. Which shows your understanding of religion to be quite lacking. Try again...

I consider the 30,000 clearly an exaggerations, in part because many so-called denominations share beliefs that clearly agree to the point that they do not seriously object to each other being Christians. Some of the above list are simply different orders of the Roman Church.

Unfortunately, you support the problem between the significant denominations limiting salvation to those that comply to certain beliefs, and call others cults, heretics, or worse. Even the Roman Church limits Salvation to the sincere ones inside the Church, and limited by grace outside defined by the Church, such as those without knowledge of the One True Church and those below the age of concent.