How Many Different Denominations Of Christianity
Christians worldwide are an estimated 2.5 billion or around one-third of the world’s population according to the World Christian Database in 2017. Christianity is a vast and varied family of churches, denominations, and faith communities that believe in one God who is the Creator of all and sent his only-begotten son, Jesus Christ, to the world. So, how many denominations are there in the universal Christian Church? The answer is complicated and varies from study to study.
In general, scholars and all denominations agree there are three main branches, or groupings, of Christianity – Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. Each of these main branches then has hundreds and thousands of sub-denominations, which are sometimes called offshoots. Generally speaking, denominations part ways over matters such as beliefs, traditions, polity or policies, liturgy and practices.
Joshua Ziefle, former director of the Center for the Study of Christian Denominations at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, provides us with some much-needed context “There is no one central point of authority that can decide if a new congregation is or isn’t a denomination anymore.” An example of this is the fact that there are nearly 5,000 different denominations that are part of the Protestant branch alone. Theology professor Dr. Gary Pence also sheds some light on the ambiguity of the answer: “The variety of denominations is both a strength and a weakness for Christianity—it shows the ingenuity of people trying to portray the faith but also introduces questions about divisions and schisms.”
Tracing denominations back to their roots is a complex process. Every denomination, no matter how small, has a unique history and heritage, which can be traced back to either a group of faithful people or an influential leader that transformed the way of thinking. People may lean to a different denomination for church, due to their family and religious practices, or simply by people they admire or admire the tradition or practices.
In the postmodern era, many denominations have been rethinking traditional notions, pushing the boundaries of faith values. People and denominations often encourage, support, and challenge one another by prayer and by voicing out their concerns and joys to God, as they face up to obstacles. Every denomination is an attempt to express the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, by one or many versions of interpretation. Every denomination has a shared faith in Jesus Christ, even if the variations on interpretations may range widely.
The Roman Catholic Church
The oldest of the denominational branches is the Roman Catholic Church, dating back to the first century AD. Founded on the teachings of the Apostle Peter, the Catholic Church claims to be the one true church of Jesus Christ and it is the largest Christian denomination today. It is the strictest in adhering to traditional beliefs and practices, and it is governed from the Vatican in Rome. The Pope is the highest religious authority of the Catholic Church.
At the heart of Catholic dogma is the belief in the authority of the Bible, the centrality of the Eucharist, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and the seven sacraments. The sacraments are integral parts of the Catholic Church’s life and the way in which Catholics experience their faith. The Catholic Church is noted for its adherence to primary and secondary sources of Christian teaching such as the Bible, papal encyclicals, and the communion of saints.
There are currently 26 regions, or “particular churches,” of the Catholic Church that function in their own capacity with unique cultures but still unified through common beliefs and traditions. While the Pope is still considered to be the highest religious authority in the worldwide Catholic Church, these “particular churches” have their own leaders that are responsible for overseeing the spiritual welfare of their respective regions.
The Eastern Orthodox Church
The Eastern Orthodox Church was established in the late 4th century and is separate from the Roman Catholic Church. It is made up of 14 mutually recognizing “autocephalous” or self-governed churches. Their primary teachings are centered around tradition and practice often communicating through symbols and icons.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is noted for its adherence to the seven ecumenical councils as a source for its teachings and beliefs. Each “autocephalous” church administers its own group of monasteries, priests, and bishops, who act independently from the Holy Synod which is the highest authority of the church.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is especially noted for its stress on tradition, orthodoxy, and scripture. Denominations such as the Greek Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church belong in the Eastern branch, both of which share a largely similar culture.
Nevertheless, unlike the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church is divided along geographical lines, with some definitions of regions changing through historical times. This divisiveness is seen in the fact that they have separate liturgies, regional customs and distinctions. In spite of differences in culture and regional customs, the Eastern Orthodox Church also uses many of the same sacraments and beliefs as the Catholic Church.
The Protestant Church
The Protestant Church is the third major branch of the Christian church and is a result of the Reformation movement. At the heart of Protestantism is the belief in the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone, which emerged in the Reformation and was summarized in the 16th-century “Five Solas”- Scripture alone, Faith alone, Grace alone, Christ alone, and for the glory of God alone.
Today, the Protestant branch of Christianity is a vast group of denominations that are incredibly varied in culture, beliefs, and practices. Protestant beliefs encompass a wide range from those that adhere to strict traditional beliefs, to others that espouse modern theological innovations. This vast diversity is displayed in the rituals, traditions, and styles of worship.
In the United States, many Protestant denominations have emerged over the years, such as the Evangelical, Fundamentalist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Churches of Christ, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Seventh-day Adventsts, and Church of the Nazarene. All these denominations fall under the umbrella term of “Protestant.”
As with the Catholic and the Orthodox branch, divisions sometimes occur due to different interpretations of Scripture and tradition. In these cases, distinct denominations are created that have some general doctrines in common, such as the belief in the Trinity, that Jesus is the son of God, and the authority of the Bible, but may differ on matters such as the practice of baptism, praying for the dead, or worship style.
The Emergence of Contemporary Denominations
Contemporary denominations and independent movements have been established in recent years, often in reaction to the more fundamental and dogmatic denominations such as Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism. Factors such as modernism, theological liberalism and postmodernism, have led to a diverse array of denominations and faith movements, arising from cultural changes in society.
Theocratic, missional, and communal movements, such as the Quakers, Mennonites, Hutterites and Amish, have additionally joined the branches, often expressing evangelical-like practices that are counter to mainstream beliefs, such as complete non-violence, non-liturgical worship, and abstention from worldliness. Other denominations have also emerged that improve upon the fragmentedness of denominations by practices such as mutual edification of all members, purposeful unity of practices, voluntary poverty, and commitment to nonconformity.
Unification of Denominations
The history of Christianity has been filled with compromise and discord from its earliest days. The proliferation of denominations and sub-denominations can easily divide the Church and distract from the essential belief in the Triune God and the main purpose of spreading the Gospel. For this reason, some have sought to bring denominations together in unity and understanding. Organizations such as The National Council of Churches and The World Council of Churches have emerged to add a degree of unity to the Church while acknowledging the diversity of denominations.
The inclusive approach of some denominations encourages cooperative dialogue and promotes understanding between branches, in order to overcome fragmentation. They emphasize the primary goal of Jesus’ teachings – to love one another – and the consequent need for orthodoxy and unity, which is essential for the ongoing growth of the Church.
Despite the various divisions that have plagued the Church for centuries, the Church still works together and is unified in essential core beliefs and in the mission of sharing the gospel. Today, there are thousands of denominations, ranging in size from having a few dozen adherents to millions, who all revere the guidance of the Triune God in their lives and in the lives of others.
Theologal and Cultural Variation in Denominations
The variety and complexity of denominations and theologies demonstrate the theological and cultural variations that exist in the world today. Individual denominations usually have their own interpretation of the Bible and their own theologies, often as a result of adaptations to varying cultural contexts and historical contexts. This means that some denominations are better equipped with responding to issues of particular cultural significance and to meet the needs of modern societies.
Flexibility in interpretation is a key factor in allowing denominations to be sculpted to meet the demands of the modern world and its Christian cultures. Denominations can focus on responding to contextual issues by selecting the principles that are most applicable for the specific cultural context, such as those involving sexuality, justice, race, discrimination, poverty, and a host of other social issues.
Meanwhile, growing numbers of people are also innovating by creating their own interpretations from Scripture. For many people, a customization of religious belief and practice has become a valuable outlet in dealing with the theological and cultural variations of the world today.
The Future of Denominations
In spite of the many variations and the fragmentation of Christianity, the future of denominations looks promising. Denominations have seen a resurgence in recent years as they respond to new socio-cultural changes and technological advances. These new branches are characterized by a willingness to embrace change, a proactive approach to evangelism and outreach, and rediscovered streams of tradition.
In conclusion, the answer to “How many denominations are there in the universal Christian Church?” is complex and can best be summarized by the fact that the current number of Christian denominations is in the thousands and continues to increase. With the emergence of contemporary denominations, the possibilities for more Christian denominations continue to be explored and theology expresses itself through a broad range of interpretations.
