There are approximately 38,000 Christian denominations
38,000 denominations! Check out this Wiki page to get an idea of the scale of this. I personally find this statistic sad and wonder at the prayer of Jesus for the unification of believers.
I was once told that denominations were a by-product of pride and maybe there is some truth in this.
Salem News today has this article:
During the past nineteen hundred years over four thousand different Christian religious denominations, organizations, and movements, have evolved in the world. These four thousand we call main line groups. Go outside of these main line movements and the number of groups cannot be counted.
A great number of these main line groups have developed their own individual plans of salvation.
Between these four thousand movements we estimate somewhere between one hundred and two hundred different plans of salvation are believed to be the true salvation plan of God.
Hundreds of differing plans of salvation, surely that can’t be right. OK granted the more cultic like groups – you know the type, only we have the troof and everybody else is wrong, deceived and doomed – may have elements within their salvation narrative which prescribe membership of their particular peculiar organisation as a prerequisite for salvation, the Jehovah Witnesses spring to mind.
In fact the dual ideology of: only we have the ‘truth’ and you must be a member of our organisation to be saved, is my own little personal definition of a cult. Some have argued that my definition would incorporate the Catholic church, which would make for a 1 billion+ membership cult and is plainly ridiculous.
As a result I have had to expand my definition of a cult to include the rejection of ecumenicalism and this current Pope is most certainly ecumenical, much to the consternation of some Anglicans and some Orthodox!
Additionally from my observations I have noted that most cults are fairly recent inventions that claim a new ‘revelation’ of God and effectively write off the last two millennia of Christianity.
On an aside, I know of a prominent ministry that deals only with combating cults and they got themselves in some serious hot water when they appeared at a major Christian exhibition here in the UK and featured the Catholic Church amongst their anti-cult literature!
Anyway, aside from the cults, surely most denominations would be largely in agreement of the tenets of salvation, or am I wrong?
Interestingly an article today in the Daily Press says:
Information and observation makes us aware there is a rise in the numbers and demands of religions in the United States. Christianity has long held its place as the number one faith group, but we realize that Islam is on the move. Therefore, Christians, known as the army of God, will need to unite in order to help our nation claim and remain one nation under God. This also reveals that it is time for Christian denominations to set aside any differences and give more attention to their similarities in the “Body of Christ.” Drastic circumstances in the United States that seem beyond control can help Christians realize that it is time to join forces. God has taught and prepared them scripturally as how to assist in bringing peace and joy to a world filled with uncertainties and frustrations.
Most people, who proclaim Christianity as their chosen faith, believe in the Holy Trinity which is God the Father, Jesus Christ Son of God and the Holy Spirit of God. Yet, denominational differences, disagreements and misunderstandings have kept them divided in many ways and fostered judging and even criticism among their people. The New Testament speaks to Christians in this manner, “Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but this rather, that no one put a stumbling block, or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Romans 14:13).
I’m not saying I agree with this article, however, perhaps the premise that the Christian community needs a powerful common foe to unify is not far off the mark.
Tags: Christianity, Church Life
October 12th, 2010 at 9:43 am
There is one church congregation for every 1000 residents of the city of Edinburgh. That excludes groups like Mormons and JW’s. Quite incredible given that most have very few members. This is something I got to know through my work.
October 12th, 2010 at 11:10 am
…per 1000 residents, my goodness that’s remarkable, I bet there isn’t that many pubs!
October 12th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Wow! I had no idea there were so many! Does anyone know of any psychological analyses of this phenomenon? I think they would make fascinating reading.
October 12th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Coincidently I just happened on this article:
The Joke’s on Them: Denominations in Heaven
The issue and existence of so many denominations seems to be in the air at the mo…..
October 13th, 2010 at 7:08 am
That is a ridiculous number of different denominatations and just goes to show the lack of unity among Christians in general. No doubt, as you say, a lot of this is due to false pride
October 14th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
[...] to Stuart for this, Salem News today has this [...]
October 14th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
[...] comments on a report that there are 38,000 Christian denominations. Since this information was on a Wikipedia page, I did some digging and it looks like this [...]