QUESTION:
Where can I find an extensive list of all Christian denominations and what they believe in?
-Seb :: Australia
ANSWER:
According to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there exist roughly 39,000 Christian denominations worldwide in 2008. That is up from 500 Christian denominations in 1800, and the number is expected to grow to 55,000 by 2025.
Currently, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary estimates that a new Christian denomination is formed every 12 hours.
Wikipedia does a great job listing the largest denominations. Religion Facts compares the major denominations. And the Hartford Institute for Religion Research has links to hundreds of official denominational websites.
Here is a mashup of some their data. Since Church Relevance focuses primarily on Protestantism, I will elaborate on that data.
Catholicism - (1,200,000,000 adherents) Click for beliefs.
- Roman Catholic Church (1,131,000,000) Click for beliefs.
Protestantism - (699,000,000 adherents) Click for beliefs.
- Pentecostalism (129,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Assemblies of God (54,700,000) Click for beliefs.
>> New Apostolic Church (11,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Foursquare Church (8,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Church of God in Christ (5,490,000) Click for beliefs. - Baptist (105,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Southern Baptist Convention (16,300,000) Click for beliefs. - Lutheranism (87,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (4,800,000) Click for beliefs. - Methodism (75,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> United Methodist Church (12,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> African Methodist Episcopal Church (5,000,000) Click for beliefs. - Reformed Churches (75,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (3,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> United Church of Christ (1,200,000) Click for beliefs. - Non-Denominational Evangelicalism (40,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Calvary Chapel (25,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> The Vineyard (15,000,000) Click for beliefs. - Restorationism (20,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Seventh-day Adventists (15,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Church of Christ (5,000,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (750,000) Click for beliefs. - Anabaptism (4,500,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Mennonites (1,300,000) Click for beliefs.
>> Amish (200,000) Click for beliefs.
Eastern Orthodoxy - (260,000,000 adherents) Click for beliefs.
Oriental Orthodox Church - (81,000,000 adherents) Click for beliefs.
Anglicanism - (77,000,000 adherents) Click for beliefs.
- Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. (2,150,000) Click for beliefs.
Nontrinitarianism - (36,000,000 adherents) Click for beliefs.
- Jehovah’s Witnesses (17,670,000) Click for beliefs.
- Mormonism (13,400,000) Click for beliefs.
Nestorianism - (1,000,000 adherents) Click for beliefs.
Obviously, there are significant theological differences between the main branches of Christianity - Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglicanism, Nontrinitarianism, and Nestorianism. In fact, many might argue that some denominations are not Christianity at all.
Keep in mind, there are also significant dogmatic differences among churches within each denomination. For example, I know Charismatic Catholics, and I know Charismatic churches that act like Baptists. I know there is a great deal of diversity in the United Methodist Church. And Presbyterians have been divided on homosexuality issues. The list could go on.
The End of Protestant Denominational Identity?
For Protestant churches, asking “What denomination are you?” seems increasingly irrelevant as more churches own their own unique theological DNA. The real question is:
What does your specific church believe?
Since denominations are losing their consistency, some suggest that multi-site churches are the denominations of the future. What do you think is the future of denominations?
If you have a question you want Church Relevance to answer, submit it via our Q+A form.
I believe that the denomination represent the body fo Christ and the denomination which do not bring forth the fruit that branch will be cutted down form the wine tree .you are right because in this Q.A,you have solved the problem by say ‘name and numbers of denominations are nothing but only the doctrines and true biblical teaching is everything.I think Gospel of John chap thirteen is a best way of understanding about the too much strenght of denominations,(Tree and Branchens).I am happy about the future of denomination because Paul say in the NewTestament “Always be happy in hope”.
when I think about denomations, the questions is do you hold to the essentials of the faith. God is getting us back to the pure Gospel instead of certain church doctrines that can be debated (non essentials) that catergorizes a certain denomation. if your in the Faith your hold to the truth of the Gospel. If not your considered a cult or some form of a religious group. regardless of what denomation you hold to. It’s all about the “GOSPEL”.
I was quite shocked to read, there were around 39,000 Christian denominations worldwide!
You know, I know people who have gone to a church all their life, and yet are not born again!.
They see it as a duty or as a means of doing “Good Works”, to please or appease God.
If it keeps Him at arms length and not at the centre of their lives, well and good.It has worked!
I wonder what the statistics would be, of those who have and follow a religion only, to those who have a relationship with Jesus.In other words, they don’t just know about Him, but KNOW Him?
In a lot of churches today, the SELF still sits on the throne.The SELF wants to be the sun, and have everything orbit around it!
Only when we hand that over to Christ, for Him to deal with it, can we know what it is like to live a God centred life, and experience the peace and grace He so abundantly gives.
I’m a Calvinist, wow @ typos.
Do any Christian denominations beleive that animals have souls ?
no