Religious denomination

Major denominations and religions of the world

A religious denomination is a subgroup within a

religion that operates under a common name and Religious Denomination in 2020
tradition among other activities. The term refers to the Catholic 16.88%
various Christian denominations (for example, Eastern Protestant 11.41%
Orthodox, Catholic, and the many varieties of Orthodoxy 3.7%
Protestantism). It is also used to describe the five Other Christians 0.4%
Sunni Islam 22.39%
major branches of Judaism (Karaite Judaism,
Shia Islam 2.48%
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and
Unaffiliated 15.58%
Reconstructionist). Within Islam, it can refer to the
Vaishnavism 10.24%
branches or sects (such as Sunni, Shia),[1][2] as well Shaivism 4.03%
as their various subdivisions such as sub-sects,[3] Shaktism 0.48%
schools of jurisprudence,[4] schools of theology[5] and Other Hinduism 0.39%
religious movements.[6][7] Buddhism 6.62%
Folk religion 5.61%
The world's largest religious denomination is Sunni Other religions 0.79%
Islam.[8][9][10][11]

Christianity
A Christian denomination is a generic term for a distinct religious body identified by traits such as a
common name, structure, leadership and doctrine. Individual bodies, however, may use alternative terms to
describe themselves, such as church or fellowship. Divisions between one group and another are defined
by doctrine and church authority; issues such as the biblical interpretation, the authority of apostolic
succession, eschatology, and papal primacy often separate one denomination from another. Groups of
denominations often sharing broadly similar beliefs, practices and historical ties are known as branches of
Christianity.

Hinduism
In Hinduism, the major deity or philosophical belief identifies a denomination, which also typically has
distinct cultural and religious practices. The major denominations include Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism
and Smartism.

Islam
Historically, Islam was divided into three major sects well known as Sunni, Khawarij and Shi‘ah.
Nowadays, Sunnis constitute about 90% of the overall Muslim population, the Shi'ahs are around 10%,[12]
while Ibadis, from the Kharijites, have diminished to a level below 0.15%.

Today, many of the Shia sects are extinct. The major surviving Imamah-Muslim Sects are Usulism (with
nearly more than 8.5%), Nizari Ismailism (with nearly more than 1%), Alevism (with slightly more than
0.5%[13] but less than 1%[14]). The other existing groups include Zaydi Shi'a of Yemen whose population
is nearly more than 0.5% of the world's Muslim population, Musta’li Ismaili (with nearly 0.1%[15] whose
Taiyabi adherents reside in Gujarat state in India and Karachi city in Pakistan. There are also significant
diaspora populations in Europe, North America, the Far East and East Africa[16]).

On the other hand, new Muslim sects like African American Muslims, Ahmadi Muslims[17] (with nearly
around 1%[18]), non-denominational Muslims, Quranist Muslims, and Wahhabis (with nearly around
0.5%[19] of the world's total Muslim population) were later independently developed.

A survey by Pew Research Center suggests that up to 25% of Muslims globally self-identified as non-
denominational Muslims.[20]

Judaism
Jewish religious movements, sometimes called "denominations" or "branches", include different groups
which have developed among Jews from ancient times. Today, the main division is between the Orthodox,
Reform and Conservative lines, with several smaller movements alongside them. This threefold
denominational structure is mainly present in the United States, while in Israel the fault lines are between
the religious Orthodox and the non-religious.

The movements differ in their views on various issues. These issues include the level of observance, the
methodology for interpreting and understanding Jewish law, biblical authorship, textual criticism and the
nature or role of the messiah (or messianic age). Across these movements there are marked differences in
liturgy, especially in the language in which services are conducted, with the more traditional movements
emphasizing Hebrew. The sharpest theological division occurs between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews
who adhere to other denominations, such that the non-Orthodox movements are sometimes referred to
collectively as the "liberal denominations" or "progressive streams."

Multi-denominational
The term "multi-denominational" may describe (for example) a religious event that includes several
religious denominations from sometimes unrelated religious groups. Many civic events include religious
portions led by representatives from several religious denominations to be as inclusive or representational as
possible of the expected population or audience. For example: the Sunday thanksgiving mass at
Campamento Esperanza (English: Camp Hope) in Chile, where services were led by both a Roman
Catholic priest and by an Evangelical preacher during the Chilean 2010 Copiapó mining accident.[21][22]

Chaplains - frequently ordained clergy of any religion - are often assigned to secular organizations to
provide spiritual support to its members who may belong to any of many different religions or
denominations. Many of these chaplains, particularly those serving with the military or other large secular
organizations, are specifically trained to minister to members of many different faiths, even faiths with
opposing religious ideology from that of the chaplain's own faith.[23]

Military organizations that do not have large numbers of members from several individual smaller but
related denominations will routinely hold multi-denominational religious services, often generically called
"Protestant" Sunday services, so minority Protestant denominations are not left out or unserved.[24][25]

Multi-denominational may also refer to a person's faith, in that their belief or affiliation crosses over formal
boundaries that strict adherents would not consider. For instance, someone may have been raised Protestant
but find Buddhist or Hindu scripture or practice to be helpful without fully abandoning their affiliation with
Christianity and therefore may not consider themselves fully Hindu or Buddhist, nor do they consider
themselves fully Christian as much as strict adherents. This would not be the same as pantheism as they
may not feel any affiliation to say islam. They may class themselves as Christian-Buddhist or Advaita-
Christian or just simply spiritual but not religious. They may pray but not meditate or vice versa or both and
they may benefit from a wide range of scripture and they may attend both Church and temple.

See also
Attempted schisms in the Baháʼí Faith
Christian denomination
Ecumenism
Hindu denominations
Interfaith dialogue
Islamic schools and branches
Jain schools and branches
Jewish religious movements
Mansions of Rastafari
Non-denominational
Religious syncretism
Schism
Schools of Buddhism
Sects of Sikhism
Shinto sects and schools
Sociological classifications of religious movements
Taoist schools

References
1. Aaron W. Hughes (2013). Muslim Identities: An Introduction to Islam (https://books.google.co
 m/books?id=95jSBFFaDkUC&pg=PA62). Columbia University Press. p. 62.
ISBN 9780231531924.
2. Theodore Gabriel, Rabiha Hannan (2011). Islam and the Veil: Theoretical and Regional
Contexts (https://books.google.com/books?id=2IdgumzY9VgC&q=ahmadiyya+denominatio
n&pg=PA58). Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 9781441161376.
3. Aaron W. Hughes (2013). Muslim Identities: An Introduction to Islam (https://books.google.co
m/books?id=95jSBFFaDkUC&pg=PA129). Columbia University Press. p. 129.
ISBN 9780231531924.
4. Muzaffar Husain Syed, Syed Saud Akhtar, B D Usmani (2011). Concise History of Islam (http
s://books.google.com/books?id=eACqCQAAQBAJ&q=denomination&pg=PA73). Vij Books
India. p. 73. ISBN 9789382573470.
5. Ali Paya (2013). The Misty Land of Ideas and The Light of Dialogue: An Anthology of
Comparative Philosophy: Western & Islamic (https://books.google.com/books?id=TygXAgA
AQBAJ&q=ash%27arite+denomination&pg=PA23). ICAS Press. p. 23.
ISBN 9781904063575.
6. Joseph Kostiner (2009). Conflict and Cooperation in the Gulf Region (https://books.google.c
om/books?id=3ctDAAAAQBAJ&q=denomination&pg=PA212). Springer Science &
Business Media. p. 212. ISBN 9783531913377.
7. Muhammad Moj (2015). The Deoband Madrassah Movement: Countercultural Trends and
Tendencies (https://books.google.com/books?id=qLbMBgAAQBAJ&q=deobandi+denominat
ion&pg=PT13). Anthem Press. p. 13. ISBN 9781783084463.
8. "Number of Muslims ahead of Catholics, says Vatican | Religion | The Guardian" (https://am
p.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/31/religion). amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved
2021-08-26.
9. Bialik, Carl (2008-04-09). "Muslims May Have Overtaken Catholics a While Ago" (https://ww
w.wsj.com/articles/BL-NB-315). Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660 (https://www.worldcat.
org/issn/0099-9660). Retrieved 2021-08-26.
10. CARL BIALIK (9 April 2008). "Muslims May Have Overtaken Catholics a While Ago" (https://
blogs.wsj.com/numbers/muslims-may-have-overtaken-catholics-a-while-ago-315/). The Wall
Street Journal. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
11. Connie R. Green, Sandra Brenneman Oldendorf, Religious Diversity and Children's
Literature: Strategies and Resources, Information Age Publishing, 2011, p. 156.
12. "Mapping the Global Muslim Population" (https://www.pewforum.org/2009/10/07/mapping-th
e-global-muslim-population/). 7 October 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
13. According to David Shankland, 15% of Turkey's population. in Structure and Function in
Turkish Society. Isis Press, 2006, p. 81.
14. According to Krisztina Kehl-Bodrogi, Syncretistic Religious Communities in the Near East
edited by her, B. Kellner-Heinkele, & A. Otter-Beaujean. Leiden: Brill, 1997.
15. "Tehelka - India's Independent Weekly News Magazine" (https://web.archive.org/web/20160
304071849/http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ws220211BOHRASII.as
p). Archived from the original (http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=Ws220
211BOHRASII.asp) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
16. Paul, Eva (2006). Die Dawoodi Bohras – eine indische Gemeinschaft in Ostafrika (http://ww
w.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/afrikanistik/kant/data/PE1_kant1.pdf) (PDF). Beiträge zur 1. Kölner
Afrikawissenschaftlichen Nachwuchstagung. Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/202
21009/http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/afrikanistik/kant/data/PE1_kant1.pdf) (PDF) from the
original on 2022-10-09.
17. Simon Ross Valentine (2008-10-06). Islam and the Ahmadiyya Jamaʻat: History, Belief,
Practice (https://books.google.com/books?id=Q78O1mjX2tMC&pg=PA61). Columbia
University Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-231-70094-8.
18. Larry DeVries; Don Baker & Dan Overmyer (January 2011). Asian Religions in British
Columbia (https://books.google.com/books?id=dgtgGhMUgIUC&pg=PA72). University of
Columbia Press. ISBN 978-0-7748-1662-5. Retrieved March 29, 2014. "The community
currently numbers around 15 million spread around the world"
19. Destined Encounters - Page 203, Sury Pullat - 2014
20. "Preface" (https://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-pref
ace/). 9 August 2012.
21. Chile mine: Rescued men attend service of thanks (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-a
merica-11561355), BBC News, 17 October 2010
22. Raphael, Angie (18 October 2010). "Freed miners return to Chile's Camp Hope" (http://www.
heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/freed-miners-return-to-camp-hope/story-e6frf7jx-122
5939966063). Herald Sun. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
23. Christmas in Prison - A Quiet One (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0712/S00172.htm),
Independent News, New Zealand, Press Release: Department Of Corrections, 13
December 2007
24. Obamas Make Rare Trip to Church While in Hawaii (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireSto
ry?id=1248042), ABC News (US), MARK NIESSE 26 December 2010
25. New chapel heralds more North Fort Hood construction (http://www.first.army.mil/contentDis
play.asp?ContentID=482), First U.S. Army, Sgt. 1st Class Gail Braymen, 19 July 2010

External links
Media related to Religious denominations at Wikimedia Commons

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