Christian denomination

A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity that comprises all church congregations of the same
kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, peculiar history, organization, leadership, theological doctrine, worship style and
sometimes a founder. It is a secular and neutral term, generally used to denote any established Christian church. Unlike a cult
or sect, a denomination is usually seen as part of the Christian religious mainstream. Most Christian denominations self-
describe as Churches, whereas some newer ones tend to use the terms churches, assemblies, fellowships, etc.,
interchangeably. Divisions between one group and another are defined by authority and doctrine; issues such as the nature of
Jesus, the authority of apostolic succession, biblical hermeneutics, theology, ecclesiology, eschatology, and papal primacy
may separate one denomination from another. Groups of denominations—often sharing broadly similar beliefs, practices, and
historical ties—are sometimes known as "branches of Christianity". These branches differ in many ways, especially through
differences in practices and belief.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Individual denominations vary widely in the degree to which they recognize one another. Several groups say they are the
direct and sole authentic successor of the church founded by Jesus Christ in the 1st century AD. Others, however, believe in
denominationalism, where some or all Christian groups are legitimate churches of the same religion regardless of their
distinguishing labels, beliefs, and practices. Because of this concept, some Christian bodies reject the term "denomination" to
describe themselves, to avoid implying equivalence with other churches or denominations.

The Catholic Church, which has over 1.3 billion members or 50.1% of all Christians worldwide,[8][9] does not view itself as a
denomination, but as the original pre-denominational Church,[10] a view rejected by other Christians. Protestant
denominations altogether have an estimated 800 million to 1 billion adherents, which account for approximately 37 to 40
percent of all Christians worldwide.[8][11] Together, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism (with major traditions including
Adventism, Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Calvinism, Lutheranism, Methodism, Moravianism, and Pentecostalism)
compose Western Christianity.[12][13] Western Christian denominations prevail in Western, Northern, Central and Southern
Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.[14]

The Eastern Orthodox Church, with an estimated 230 million adherents,[15][11][16] is the second-largest Christian body in the
world and also considers itself the original pre-denominational Church. Orthodox Christians, 80% of whom are Eastern
Orthodox and 20% Oriental Orthodox, make up about 11.9% of the global Christian population.[15] The Eastern Orthodox
Church is itself a communion of fully independent autocephalous churches (or "jurisdictions") that recognize each other, for
the most part. Similarly, the Catholic Church is a communion of sui iuris churches, including 23 Eastern ones. The Eastern
Orthodox Church, together with the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, the Oriental Orthodox communion, the Assyrian Church
of the East, and the Ancient Church of the East constitute Eastern Christianity. There are Protestant Eastern Christians that
have adopted Protestant theology but have cultural and historical ties with other Eastern Christians. Eastern Christian
denominations are represented mostly in Eastern Europe, North Asia, the Middle East, Northeast Africa, and India (especially
South India).

Christians have various doctrines about the Church (the body of the faithful that they believe Jesus Christ established) and
about how the divine church corresponds to Christian denominations. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental
Orthodox and Church of the East denominations, each hold that only their own specific organization faithfully represents the
one holy catholic and apostolic Church, to the exclusion of all others. Sixteenth-century Protestants separated from the
Catholic Church as a result of the Reformation; a movement against Roman Catholic doctrines and practices which the
Reformers perceived to be in violation of the Bible.[17][18][19] Generally, members of the various denominations acknowledge
each other as Christians, at least to the extent that they have mutually recognized baptisms and acknowledge historically
orthodox views including the divinity of Jesus and doctrines of sin and salvation, even though doctrinal and ecclesiological
obstacles hinder full communion between churches.

Restorationism emerged after the Second Great Awakening and collectively affirms belief in a Great Apostasy, thus
promoting a belief in restoring what they see as primitive Christianity.[20] It includes Mormonism, Christadelphians, Jehovah's
Witnesses, among others.[21]

Since the reforms surrounding the Second Vatican Council of 1962–1965, the Roman Catholic Church has referred to
Protestant Churches as ecclesial communities, while reserving the term "church" for apostolic churches, including the Eastern
Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches . But some non-denominational Christians do not follow any particular branch,[22]
though they sometimes are regarded as Protestants.[23][24][25][26]
Contents
Terminology
Major branches
Denominationalism
Taxonomy
Historical schisms and divisions
Antiquity
Middle Ages
Protestant Reformation (16th century)
Old and Liberal Catholic Churches (19th-20th centuries)
Eastern Christianity
Western Christianity
Christians with Jewish roots
Modern history
Unitarianism
Restorationism
Second Great Awakening
Latter Day Saint movement
Spiritual Christianity
Other movements
See also
Notes
References
External links

Terminology
Each group uses different terminology to discuss their beliefs. This section will discuss the definitions of several terms used
throughout the article, before discussing the beliefs themselves in detail in following sections.

A denomination within Christianity can be defined as a "recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church"; major
synonyms include "religious group, sect, Church," etc.[Note 1][27] "Church" as a synonym, refers to a "particular Christian
organization with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines";[28] "church" can also more broadly be defined as the
entire body of Christians, the "Christian Church".

Some traditional and evangelical Protestants draw a distinction between membership in the universal church and fellowship
within the local church. Becoming a believer in Christ makes one a member of the universal church; one then may join a
fellowship of other local believers.[29] Some evangelical groups describe themselves as interdenominational fellowships,
partnering with local churches to strengthen evangelical efforts, usually targeting a particular group with specialized needs,
such as students or ethnic groups.[30] A related concept is denominationalism, the belief that some or all Christian groups are
legitimate churches of the same religion regardless of their distinguishing labels, beliefs, and practices.[31] (Conversely,
"denominationalism" can also refer to "emphasizing of denominational differences to the point of being narrowly exclusive",
similar to sectarianism.)[32]

The views of Protestant leaders differ greatly from those of the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern
Orthodox Church, the two largest Christian denominations. Each church makes mutually exclusive statements for itself to be
the direct continuation of the church founded by Jesus Christ, from whom other denominations later broke away.[10] These
churches, and a few others, reject denominationalism.
Historically, Catholics would label members of certain Christian churches (also certain non-Christian religions) by the names
of their founders, either actual or purported. Such supposed founders were referred to as heresiarchs. This was done even
when the party thus labeled viewed itself as belonging to the one true church. This allowed the Catholic party to say that the
other church was founded by the founder, while the Catholic church was founded by Christ. This was done intentionally in
order to "produce the appearance of the fragmentation within Christianity"[33]–a problem which the Catholic side would then
attempt to remedy on its own terms.

Although Catholics reject branch theory, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II used the "two lungs" concept to relate
Catholicism with Eastern Orthodoxy.[34]

Major branches
Christianity can be taxonomically divided into six main groups: the Church of the East,
Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and
Restorationism.[20][36] Protestantism includes many groups which do not share any
ecclesiastical governance and have widely diverging beliefs and practices.[12] Major
Protestant denominations include Adventism, Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists,
Lutheranism, Methodism, Moravianism, Pentecostalism and Reformed
Christianity. [12][13] Reformed Christianity itself includes the Continental Reformed,
Presbyterian, Evangelical Anglican, Congregationalist, and Reformed Baptist
traditions.[37]

Christianity has denominational families (or movements) and also has individual
denominations (or communions). The difference between a denomination and a
denominational family is sometimes unclear to outsiders. Some denominational families Worldwide Christianity by
can be considered major branches. Groups that are members of a branch, while sharing denomination as of
historical ties and similar doctrines, are not necessarily in communion with one another. 2011[35]

There were some movements considered heresies by the early Church which do not Catholic Church (50.1%)
exist today and are not generally referred to as denominations. Examples include the Protestantism (36.7%)
Gnostics (who had believed in an esoteric dualism called gnosis), the Ebionites (who Orthodoxy (11.9%)
denied the divinity of Jesus), and the Arians (who subordinated the Son to the Father by Other (1.3%)
denying the pre-existence of Christ, thus placing Jesus as a created being), Bogumilism
and Bosnian Church. The greatest divisions in Christianity today, however, are between
the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and the various denominations formed during and after the Protestant
Reformation.[38][39][40] There also exists a number of non-Trinitarian groups. There also exist some non-traditional groups
that the majority of other Christians view as apostate or heretical, and not as legitimate versions of Christianity.

Comparisons between denominational churches must be approached with caution. For example, in some churches,
congregations are part of a larger church organization, while in other groups, each congregation is an independent
autonomous organization. This issue is further complicated by the existence of groups of congregations with a common
heritage that are officially nondenominational and have no centralized authority or records, but which are identified as
denominations by non-adherents. Study of such churches in denominational terms is therefore a more complex proposition.

Some groups count membership based on adult believers and baptized children of believers, while others only count adult
baptized believers. Others may count membership based on those adult believers who have formally affiliated themselves with
the congregation. In addition, there may be political motives of advocates or opponents of a particular group to inflate or
deflate membership numbers through propaganda or outright deception.

Denominationalism

Denominationalism is the belief that some or all Christian groups are legitimate churches of the same religion regardless of
their distinguishing labels, beliefs, and practices.[31] The idea was first articulated by Independents within the Puritan
movement. They argued that differences among Christians were inevitable, but that separation based on these differences was
not necessarily schism. Christians are obligated to practice their beliefs rather than remain within a church with which they
disagree, but they must also recognize their imperfect knowledge and not condemn other Christians as apostate over
unimportant matters.[41]
Some Christians view denominationalism as a regrettable fact. As of 2011, divisions are becoming less sharp, and there is
increasing cooperation between denominations, which is known as ecumenism. Many denominations participate in the World
Council of Churches.[42] Theological denominationalism ultimately denies reality to any apparent doctrinal differences among
the "denominations", reducing all differences to mere matters de nomina ("of names").

A denomination in this sense is created when part of a church no longer feel they can accept the leadership of that church as a
spiritual leadership due to a different view of doctrine or what they see as immoral behaviour, but the schism does not in any
way reflect either group leaving the Church as a theoretical whole.

This particular doctrine is rejected by Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and the Oriental Orthodoxy. In these churches,
it is not possible to have a separation over doctrinal or leadership issues, and any such attempts automatically are a type of
schism. Some Protestant groups reject denominationalism as well.

Taxonomy

Eastern Christianity Western Christianity

Major denominational families in Christianity:

Protestantism
Protestant Reformation
(16th century) Anabaptism
Anglicanism
Great Schism Calvinism
State church of the (11th century) Lutheranism
Roman Empire
Early Christianity

(Latin Church)
"Great Church" (Full communion) Catholic Church
(Eastern Catholic Churches)

Eastern Orthodox Church

Oriental Orthodox Churches
Council of Ephesus (431) Assyrian Church of the East
Church of the East Ancient Church of the East
Council of Chalcedon (451)
Nestorianism Schism (1552)

(Not shown are non-Nicene, nontrinitarian, and some restorationist denominations.)

Historical schisms and divisions

Christianity has not been a monolithic faith since the first century or Apostolic Age, if ever, and today there exist a large
variety of groups that share a common history and tradition within and without mainstream Christianity. Christianity is the
largest religion in the world (making up approximately one-third of the population) and the various divisions have
commonalities and differences in tradition, theology, church government, doctrine, and language.

The largest schism or division in many classification schemes is between the families of Eastern and Western Christianity.
After these two larger families come distinct branches of Christianity. Most classification schemes list three (in order of size:
Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodox Christianity), with Orthodox Christianity being divided into Eastern
Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and the Church of the East, which was originally referred to as Nestorianism but in modern
times is embodied by the Assyrian and Ancient Churches of the East.[43][44] Protestantism includes diverse groups such as
Adventists, Anabaptists, Anglicans, Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists (inclusive of the Holiness movement),
Moravians, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Reformed,[43][12][13] and Unitarians (depending on one's classification scheme) are
all a part of the same family but have distinct doctrinal variations within each group—Lutherans see themselves not to be a
part of the rest of what they call "Reformed Protestantism" due to radical differences in sacramental theology and historical
approach to the Reformation itself (both Reformed and Lutherans see their reformation in the sixteenth century to be a
'reforming' of the Catholic Church, not a rejection of it entirely). From these come denominations, which in the West, have
independence from the others in their doctrine.

The Catholic Church, due to their hierarchical structures, are not said to be made up of denominations, rather, they include
kinds of regional councils and individual congregations and church bodies, which do not officially differ from one another in
doctrine.

Antiquity
The initial differences between the East and West traditions stem from socio-cultural and ethno-linguistic divisions in and
between the Western Roman and Byzantine empires. Since the West (that is, Western Europe) spoke Latin as its lingua franca
and the East (Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and northern Africa) largely used Aramaic and Koine Greek to transmit
writings, theological developments were difficult to translate from one branch to the other. In the course of ecumenical
councils (large gatherings of Christian leaders), some church bodies split from the larger family of Christianity. Many earlier
heretical groups either died off for lack of followers or suppression by the early proto-orthodox Church at large (such as
Apollinarians, Montanists, and Ebionites).

The first significant, lasting split in historic Christianity came from the Church of the East, who left following the
Christological controversy over Nestorianism in 431 (the Assyrians in 1994 released a common Christological statement with
the Catholic Church). Today, the Assyrian and Catholic Church view this schism as largely linguistic, due to problems of
translating very delicate and precise terminology from Latin to Aramaic and vice versa (see Council of Ephesus).

Following the Council of Chalcedon in 451, the next large split came with the Syriac and Coptic churches dividing
themselves, with the dissenting churches becoming today's Oriental Orthodox. The Armenian Apostolic Church, whose
representatives were not able to attend the council did not accept new dogmas and now is also seen as an Oriental Orthodox
church. In modern times, there have also been moves towards healing this split, with common Christological statements being
made between Pope John Paul II and Syriac Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, as well as between representatives of both
Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy.

There has been a statement that the Chalcedonian Creed restored Nestorianism, however this is refuted by maintaining the
following distinctions associated with the person of Christ: two hypostases, two natures (Nestorian); one hypostasis, one
nature (Monophysite); one hypostasis, two natures (Orthodox/Catholic).[45]

Middle Ages

In Western Christianity, there were a handful of geographically isolated movements that preceded the spirit of the Protestant
Reformation. The Cathars were a very strong movement in medieval southwestern France, but did not survive into modern
times. In northern Italy and southeastern France, Peter Waldo founded the Waldensians in the 12th century. This movement
has largely been absorbed by modern-day Protestant groups. In Bohemia, a movement in the early 15th century by Jan Hus
called the Hussites defied Catholic dogma and still exists to this day (alternately known as the Moravian Church).

Although the church as a whole did not experience any major divisions for centuries afterward, the Eastern and Western
groups drifted until the point where patriarchs from both families excommunicated one another in about 1054 in what is
known as the Great Schism. The political and theological reasons for the schism are complex, but one major controversy was
the inclusion and acceptance in the West of the filioque clause into the Nicene Creed, which the East viewed as erroneous.
Another was the definition of papal primacy.

Both West and East agreed that the Patriarch of Rome was owed a "primacy of honour" by the other patriarchs (those of
Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople and Jerusalem), but the West also contended that this primacy extended to jurisdiction, a
position rejected by the Eastern patriarchs. Various attempts at dialogue between the two groups would occur, but it was only
in the 1960s, under Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, that significant steps began to be made to mend the relationship
between the two.

Protestant Reformation (16th century)

The Protestant Reformation began with the posting of Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses in Saxony on October 31, 1517,
written as a set of grievances to reform the pre-Reformation Western Church. Luther's writings, combined with the work of
Swiss theologian Huldrych Zwingli and French theologian and politician John Calvin sought to reform existing problems in
doctrine and practice. Due to the reactions of ecclesiastical office holders at the time of the reformers, these reformers
separated from the Catholic Church, instigating a rift in Western Christianity.

In England, Henry VIII of England declared himself to be supreme head of the Church of England with the Act of
Supremacy in 1531, founding the Church of England, repressing both Lutheran reformers and those loyal to the pope.
Thomas Cranmer as Archbishop of Canterbury introduced the Reformation, in a form compromising between the Calvinists
and Lutherans.

Old and Liberal Catholic Churches (19th-20th centuries)

The Old Catholic Church split from the Catholic Church in the 1870s because of the
promulgation of the dogma of papal infallibility as promoted by the First Vatican Council of
1869–1870. The term 'Old Catholic' was first used in 1853 to describe the members of the
See of Utrecht that were not under Papal authority. The Old Catholic movement grew in
America but has not maintained ties with Utrecht, although talks are under way between
independent Old Catholic bishops and Utrecht.

The Liberal Catholic Church started in 1916 via an Old Catholic bishop in London, bishop
Matthew, who consecrated bishop James Wedgwood to the Episcopacy. This stream has in its
relatively short existence known many splits, which operate worldwide under several names.
Door of the Schlosskirche
(castle church) in Wittenberg
Eastern Christianity to which Luther is said to
have nailed his 95 Theses
In the Eastern world, the largest body of believers in modern times is the Eastern Orthodox on 31st October 1517,
Church, sometimes imprecisely called "Greek Orthodox" because from the time of Christ sparking the Reformation
through the Byzantine empire, Greek was its common language. However, the term "Greek
Orthodox" actually refers to only one portion of the entire Eastern Orthodox Church. The
Eastern Orthodox Church believes itself to be the continuation of the original Christian Church established by Jesus Christ,
and the Apostles. The Orthodox and Catholics have been separated since the 11th century, following the East–West Schism,
with each of them saying they represent the original pre-schism Church.

The Eastern Orthodox consider themselves to be spiritually one body, which is administratively grouped into several
autocephalous jurisdictions (also commonly referred to as "churches", despite being parts of one Church). They do not
recognize any single bishop as universal church leader, but rather each bishop governs only his own diocese. The Patriarch of
Constantinople is known as the Ecumenical Patriarch, and holds the title "first among equals", meaning only that if a great
council is called, the patriarch sits as president of the council. He has no more power than any other bishop. Currently, the
largest synod with the most members is the Russian Orthodox Church. Others include the ancient Patriarchates of
Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, the Georgian, Romanian, Serbian and Bulgarian Orthodox churches, and
several smaller ones.

The second largest Eastern Christian communion is Oriental Orthodoxy, which is

organized in a similar manner, with six national autocephalous groups and two
autonomous bodies, although there are greater internal differences than among the
Eastern Orthodox (especially in the diversity of rites being used). The six
autocephalous Oriental Orthodox churches are the Coptic (Egyptian), Syriac,
Armenian, Malankara (Indian), Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox churches. In the
Aramaic-speaking areas of the Middle East, the Syriac Orthodox Church has long
been dominant. Although the region of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea has had a
strong body of believers since the infancy of Christianity, these regions only gained
autocephaly in 1963 and 1994 respectively. The Oriental Orthodox are distinguished A 6th-century Nestorian church, St.
from the Eastern Orthodox by doctrinal differences concerning the union of human John the Arab, in the Assyrian village
and divine natures in the person of Jesus Christ, and the two communions separated of Geramon
as a consequence of the Council of Chalcedon in the year 451, although there have
been recent moves towards reconciliation. Since these groups are relatively obscure
in the West, literature on them has sometimes included the Church of the East, which, like the Oriental Orthodox, originated in
the 1st century A.D., but has not been in communion with them since before the Council of Ephesus of 431.

Largely aniconic, the Church of the East represents a third Eastern Christian tradition in its own right. In recent centuries, it
has split into three Churches. The largest (since the early 20th century) is the Baghdad-based Chaldean Catholic Church
formed from groups that entered communion with Rome at different times, beginning in 1552. The second-largest is what
since 1976[46] is officially called the Assyrian Church of the East and which from 1933 to 2015 was headquartered first in
Cyprus and then in the United States, but whose present Catholicos-Patriarch, Gewargis III, elected in 2015, lives in Erbil,
Iraq. The third is the Ancient Church of the East, distinct since 1964 and headed by Addai II Giwargis, resident in Baghdad.

There are also the Eastern Catholic Churches, most of which are counterparts of those listed above, sharing with them the
same theological and liturgical traditions, but differing from them in that they recognize the Bishop of Rome as the universal
head of the Church. They are fully part of the Catholic communion, on the same level juridically as the Latin Church. Most of
their members do not describe themselves as "Roman Catholics", a term they associate with membership of the Latin Church,
and speak of themselves in relation to whichever Church they belong to: Maronites, Melkites, Ukrainian Catholics, Coptic
Catholics, Chaldean Catholics, etc.[47]

And finally the smallest Eastern Christian group founded in early 20th century is Byzantine Rite Lutheranism where accept
Byzantine Rite as Church's liturgy while retaining their Lutheran traditions like Ukrainian Lutheran Church. It is considered
part of Eastern Protestant denominational movement.

Western Christianity

The Latin portion of the Catholic Church, along with Protestantism, comprise the three major divisions of Christianity in the
Western world. Catholics do not describe themselves as a denomination but rather as the original Church; which all other
branches broke off from in schism. The Baptist, Methodist, and Lutheran churches are generally considered to be Protestant
denominations, although strictly speaking, of these three, only the Lutherans took part in the official Protestation at Speyer
after the decree of the Second Diet of Speyer mandated the burning of Luther's works and the end of the Protestant
Reformation. Anglicanism is generally classified as Protestant,[12][13][48] being originally seen as a via media, or middle way
between Lutheranism and Reformed Christianity, and since the Oxford Movement of the 19th century, some Anglican writers
of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship emphasize a more catholic understanding of the church and characterize it as being both
Protestant and Catholic.[49] A case is sometimes also made to regard Lutheranism in a similar way, considering the catholic
character of its foundational documents (the Augsburg Confession and other documents contained in the Book of Concord)
and its existence prior to the Anglican, Anabaptist, and Reformed churches, from which nearly all other Protestant
denominations derive.[50]

One central tenet of Catholicism (which is a common point between Catholic, Scandinavian Lutheran, Anglican, Moravian,
Orthodox, and some other Churches), is its practice of apostolic succession. "Apostle" means "one who is sent out". Jesus
commissioned the first twelve apostles (see Biblical Figures for the list of the Twelve), and they, in turn laid hands on
subsequent church leaders to ordain (commission) them for ministry. In this manner, Catholics and Anglicans trace their
ordained ministers all the way back to the original Twelve.

Catholics believe that the Pope has authority which can be traced directly to the apostle Peter whom they hold to be the
original head of and first Pope of the Church. There are smaller churches, such as the Old Catholic Church which rejected the
definition of Papal Infallibility at the First Vatican Council, as well as Evangelical Catholics and Anglo-Catholics, who are
Lutherans and Anglicans that believe that Lutheranism and Anglicanism, respectively, are a continuation of historical
Catholicism and who incorporate many Catholic beliefs and practices.[50] The Catholic Church refers to itself simply by the
terms Catholic and Catholicism (which mean universal).

Sometimes, Catholics, based on a strict interpretation of extra ecclesiam nulla salus ("Outside the Church, there is no
salvation"), rejected any notion those outside its communion could be regarded as part of any true Catholic Christian faith, an
attitude rejected by the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).[51] Catholicism has a hierarchical structure in which supreme
authority for matters of faith and practice are the exclusive domain of the Pope, who sits on the Throne of Peter, and the
bishops when acting in union with him.

Each Protestant movement has developed freely, and many have split over theological issues. For instance, a number of
movements grew out of spiritual revivals, such as Pentecostalism. Doctrinal issues and matters of conscience have also
divided Protestants. Still others formed out of administrative issues; Methodism branched off as its own group of
denominations when the American Revolutionary War complicated the movement's ability to ordain ministers (it had begun as
a movement within the Church of England). In Methodism's case, it has undergone a number of administrative schisms and
mergers with other denominations (especially those associated with the holiness movement in the 20th century).

The Anabaptist tradition, made up of the Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites, rejected the Roman Catholic and Lutheran
doctrines of infant baptism; this tradition is also noted for its belief in pacifism. Many Anabaptists do not see themselves as
Protestant, but a separate tradition altogether.[52][53]

Some denominations which arose alongside the Western Christian tradition consider themselves Christian, but neither Catholic
nor wholly Protestant, such as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Quakerism began as an evangelical Christian
movement in 17th century England, eschewing priests and all formal Anglican or Catholic sacraments in their worship,
including many of those practices that remained among the stridently Protestant Puritans such as baptism with water. They
were known in America for helping with the Underground Railroad, and like the Mennonites, Quakers traditionally refrain
from participation in war.
Many churches with roots in Restorationism reject being identified as Protestant or even as a denomination at all, as they use
only the Bible and not creeds, and model the church after what they feel is the first-century church found in scripture; the
Churches of Christ are one example; African Initiated Churches, like Kimbanguism, mostly fall within Protestantism, with
varying degrees of syncretism. The measure of mutual acceptance between the denominations and movements varies, but is
growing largely due to the ecumenical movement in the 20th century and overarching Christian bodies such as the World
Council of Churches.

Christians with Jewish roots

Messianic Jews maintain a Jewish identity while accepting Jesus as the Messiah and the New Testament as authoritative. After
the founding of the church, the disciples of Jesus generally retained their ethnic origins while accepting the Gospel message.
The first church council was called in Jerusalem to address just this issue, and the deciding opinion was written by James the
Just, the first bishop of Jerusalem and a pivotal figure in the Christian movement. The history of Messianic Judaism includes
many movements and groups and defies any simple classification scheme.

The 19th century saw at least 250,000 Jews convert to Christianity according to existing records of various societies.[54] Data
from the Pew Research Center has it that, as of 2013, about 1.6 million adult American Jews identify themselves as
Christians, most as Protestants.[55][56][57] According to the same data, most of the Jews who identify themselves as some sort
of Christian (1.6 million) were raised as Jews or are Jews by ancestry.[56]

Modern history

Unitarianism

Within Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Transylvania, Hungary and Romania Unitarian Churches emerged out of the Reformed
tradition in the 16th century.[58][59] They adopted the Anabaptist doctrine of credobaptism.[60] The Unitarian Church of
Transylvania is an example of such a denomination that arose in this era and is represented in the Protestant Theological
Institute of Cluj. Due to their rejection of the Athanasian Creed which contains the doctrine of the Trinity, many mainstream
Christian Churches do not recognize Unitarians as Christians.[61]

Restorationism

Second Great Awakening

The Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening (1790–
1870) of the early 19th century. The movement sought to restore the church and "the unification of all Christians in a single
body patterned after the church of the New Testament."[62]:54 Members do not identify as Protestant but simply as
Christian.[63][64][65]:213

The Restoration Movement developed from several independent efforts to return to apostolic Christianity, but two groups,
which independently developed similar approaches to the Christian faith, were particularly important.[66]:27–32 The first, led
by Barton W. Stone, began at Cane Ridge, Kentucky and called themselves simply as "Christians". The second began in
western Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Virginia) and was led by Thomas Campbell and his son, Alexander Campbell;
they used the name "Disciples of Christ". Both groups sought to restore the whole Christian church on the pattern set forth in
the New Testament, and both believed that creeds kept Christianity divided. In 1832 they joined in fellowship with a
handshake.

Among other things, they were united in the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; that Christians should celebrate the
Lord's Supper on the first day of each week; and that baptism of adult believers by immersion in water is a necessary
condition for salvation. Because the founders wanted to abandon all denominational labels, they used the biblical names for
the followers of Jesus.[67]:27 Both groups promoted a return to the purposes of the 1st-century churches as described in the
New Testament. One historian of the movement has argued that it was primarily a unity movement, with the restoration motif
playing a subordinate role.[68]:8
The Restoration Movement has since divided into multiple separate groups. There are three main branches in the US: the
Churches of Christ, the Christian churches and churches of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Other U.S.-
based groups affiliated with the movement are the International Churches of Christ and the International Christian Churches.
Non-U.S. groups include the Churches of Christ in Australia, the Evangelical Christian Church in Canada, the Churches of
Christ in Europe. The Plymouth Brethren are a similar though historically unrelated group which originated in the United
Kingdom. Some churches, such as Churches of Christ or the Plymouth Brethren reject formal ties with other churches within
the movement.

Other Christian groups originating during the Second Great Awakening including the Adventist movement,[69] the Jehovah's
Witnesses,[70] and Christian Science,[71] founded within fifty years of one another, all consider themselves to be restorative of
primitive Christianity and the early church. Some Baptist churches with Landmarkist views have similar beliefs concerning
their connection with primitive Christianity.[72]

Latter Day Saint movement

Most Latter Day Saint denominations are derived from the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) established by Joseph Smith
in 1830, which is categorized as a Restorationist denomination.[21] The largest worldwide denomination is The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as Mormonism. Various considerably smaller sects broke from this
movement after its relocation to the Rocky Mountains in the mid-1800s. Several of these broke away over the abandonment
of practicing plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto. Most of the "Prairie Saint" denominations (see below) were established
after Smith's death by the remnants of the Latter Day Saints who did not go west with Brigham Young. Many of these
opposed some of the 1840s theological developments in favor of 1830s theological understandings and practices. Other
denominations are defined by either a belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet or acceptance of the Book of Mormon as scripture.
Mormons generally consider themselves to be restorationist, believing that Smith, as prophet, seer, and revelator, restored the
original and true Church of Christ to the earth. Some Latter Day Saint denominations are regarded by other Christians as
being nontrinitarian or even non-Christian, but the Latter Day Saints are predominantly in disagreement with these statements.
Mormons see themselves as believing in a Godhead comprising the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as separate personages
united in purpose. Mormons regard traditional definitions of the Trinity as aberrations of true doctrine and emblematic of the
Great Apostasy[73] but they do not accept certain trinitarian definitions in the post-apostolic creeds, such as the Athanasian
Creed.

Spiritual Christianity

Spiritual Christianity, inclusive of the Molokans and Doukhobors emerged in Russia, each containing a unique tradition.[74]
The Doukhobor have maintained close association with Mennonite Anabaptist Christians and Quaker Christians due to
analogous religious practices; all of these groups are furthermore collectively considered to be peace churches due to their
belief in pacifism.[75][76][77]

Other movements

Protestant denominations have shown a strong tendency towards diversification and fragmentation, giving rise to numerous
churches and movements, especially in Anglo-American religious history, where the process is cast in terms of a series of
"Great Awakenings". The most recent wave of diversification, known as the Fourth Great Awakening took place during the
1960s to 1980s and resulted in phenomena such as the Charismatic Movement, the Jesus movement, and a great number of
parachurch organizations based in Evangelicalism.

Many independent churches and movements consider themselves to be non-denominational, but may vary greatly in doctrine.
Many of these, like the local churches movement, reflect the core teachings of traditional Christianity. Others however, such as
The Way International, have been denounced as cults by the Christian anti-cult movement. Further, others may have similar
doctrine to mainline churches but incorporate a multi-faith and ecumenical model such as the Interfaith-Ecumenical Church
(IEC) that is based entirely in a virtual and international model.

Two movements, which are entirely unrelated in their founding, but share a common element of an additional Messiah (or
incarnation of Christ) are the Unification Church and the Rastafari movement. These movements fall outside of traditional
taxonomies of Christian groups, though both cite the Christian Bible as a basis for their beliefs.
Syncretism of Christian beliefs with local and tribal religions is a phenomenon that occurs throughout the world. An example
of this is the Native American Church. The ceremonies of this group are strongly tied to the use of peyote. (Parallels may be
drawn here with the Rastafari spiritual use of cannabis.) While traditions vary from tribe to tribe, they often include a belief in
Jesus as a Native American cultural hero, an intercessor for man, or a spiritual guardian; belief in the Bible; and an association
of Jesus with peyote.

There are also some Christians that reject organized religion altogether. Some Christian anarchists - often those of a Protestant
background - believe that the original teachings of Jesus were corrupted by Roman statism (compare Early Christianity and
State church of the Roman Empire), and that earthly authority such as government, or indeed the established Church, do not
and should not have power over them. Following "The Golden Rule", many oppose the use of physical force in any
circumstance, and advocate nonviolence. The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy wrote The Kingdom of God Is Within You,[78] and
was a Christian anarchist.

See also
Christian tradition
Great Church
List of Christian denominations
List of Christian denominations by number of members

Notes
1. The Oxford Dictionary's full list of synonyms for "denomination" includes: "religious group, sect, Church, cult,
movement, faith community, body, persuasion, religious persuasion, communion, order, fraternity,
brotherhood, sisterhood, school; faith, creed, belief, religious belief, religion. rare: sodality."

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Archived from the original (http://mormon.org/articles-of-faith) on 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
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Doukhobors, Hutterites, Mennonites and Ukrainians
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s/folkfurnitureofc00flem/page/4). ISBN 9780888644183. "The English Quakers, who had made contact with
the Doukhobors earlier, as well as the Philadelphia Society of Friends, also determined to help with their
emigration from Russia to some other country—the only action which seemed possible."
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p. 107.
77. Fahlbusch, Erwin (14 February 2008). The Encyclodedia of Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
p. 208. ISBN 9780802824172. "The only contact with Mennonites was the period 1802–41 when they lived
in the Molotschna, where Johann Cornies (q.v.) rendered them considerable assistance."
78. Leo Tolstoy - The Kingdom of God is Within You (http://www.kingdomnow.org/withinyou.html) Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20120205200941/http://www.kingdomnow.org/withinyou.html) 2012-02-05 at the
Wayback Machine. Kingdomnow.org. Retrieved on 2010-11-03.

External links
Christian Denominations (http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations.htm) History, profiles and
comparison charts of major Christian denominations
Denominational links (http://www.ecumenism.net/denom/) from the Ecumenism in Canada site

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christian_denomination&oldid=1033093143"

This page was last edited on 11 July 2021, at 15:14 (UTC).

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