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
What i believe is that God himself is not particular about the Denominations but what count more is about the life we live.
Why not go back to where Jesus started his church in Acts ? and continue in the Apostle’s doctrine ?
let all men be lier’s and my word be true…. who will explain that verse ?
A ’soul’ is just the essence or what-ness of a living thing. All living things have souls. What makes humans exceptional are the spiritual powers: intellect and will. So ya, of course animals have souls.
Many different religions here on earth.Many sects(differents beliefs) of each religion. Many prophets and teachers preaching and teaching them. Pure: That which is free from being corrupt,polluted,contaminated,weak,ineffective,different,inferior. Original: That which was first before it was copied, imitated,derived from,changed. Christianity: The way that the Almighty God established for all nations of men to return to a good,pure, and perfect relationship with Him, through the exsamples of obedience,faith,rightousness,and truth of His Son Jesus Christ,who did no sin,neither was guile found in His mouth( 1Peter 2:22)who He sent with His apostles,and through their teachings undo the curse(labor,war,physical and mental sicknesses and diseases) brought upon all mankind through the sin(disobedience) of the first man Adam and his wife Eve.PURE,ORIGINAL,CHRISTIANITY(Is there such a thing?) This is absolutely the one and only way to heaven and eternal life by obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ and following the exact writings (teaching and doings) of the apostles of Jesus Christ.. Matthew10:40
In the last century I’m sure there has been more converts from Christianity to other religions or just Atheism due to our understanding about how everything came to be from a scientific perspective.
, I can’t imagine how the world will be like another hundred years from now. I grew up in a Christian church,2/3 of my family ministers or aspiring pastors or bishops and I still have yet to experience the divinity in the word.
[...] found another site that places it at 36 million which translates into 0.017% of total Christians. Q+A :: List of Christian Denominations and Their Beliefs | churchrelevance.com Either way, quite an insignificant amount compared to all Christian [...]
The “Soul” is your Mind, Will, and Emotion. Your “Soul” is NOT the same thing as your Spirit!
I kinda doubt that animals have Souls, but I believe that animals have their own Spirit.
Someone’s Denomination doesn’t matter, but someone’s Doctrine does matter! (They are not the same thing!)
(I personally have not fully made up my mind on much, but there are some things that I am leaning toward.)
The first church was not in Rome.the Catholic was the first denominational church.the first church was in jerusalem.on the day of pentacost.If you can’t see man has lost his way with 39000 difrent belief.With one bible one god one way.I would not join up with none of them.Ever what church you go to there going to make you that.that all it can do?Weather it be baptist catholic or whatever.The bible said to belong to christ.Every single one of these is a cut from the Catholic church.Check Church history.They everyone took thing the like from the catholic and pass it on.Who do you think the mark of the beast is.and who the harlot are?The people are worshiping Satan and don’t know it.Now there are christain in those churches they don’t know any better.But it the organization i am agaist.Show me in the bible were there is aposle creed dogmas.there all man made.For if you take one word out the books of these prophecy.his name shall be taking out of the book of life.Brother if you are in these things get to christ has hard has you can.Stay with what the bible says.For they have made my father house aden thieves.that is all they are. Michael Beard
All these links are dead. Does anybody know a link to a list that works?
totally….. if the idea of church is to be united in our faith, which is that Jesus IS the son of God, then why so many denominations?????? it is just the little things that seperate us from each others’ faith…. some believe the 7th day to rest is on saturday, others sunday…. some don’t believe that clapping your hands, dancing, speaking in tongues, or jumping to praise is allowed in church…. Jesus once said, “in my father’s house, there are many rooms”….. now, how in the world are we gonna fit the millions of various church denominations without any commotions but with the accpetance of each others’ beliefs into one house?????? if it could be possible in God’s house, then why can’t we start here, on earth, and unite ourselves under one gigantic house of God?!?
Christians of the world, let’s get back to the basics and be ONE in CHRIST!!!!!!!
PURE:Free from that which corrupts,pollutes,contaminates,defiles,makes ineffective,is different,inferior.
ORIGINAL:That which is first before it was copied,imitated,derived from,changed.
CHRISTIANITY:The way that the creator of heaven and earth, the Almighty God established for all people of every language and tongue everywhere to return to a good,pure,and perfect relationship with Him .through the examples of faith,obedience,righteousness,and truth of His son Jesus Christ,who did no sin neither was guile found in His mouth(1Peter2:22) and through the teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles undo the curse brought upon all mankind through the sin(disobedience) of the first man Adam and his wife Eve. PURE ORIGINAL CHRISTIANITY.This is absolutely the one and only true
and sure way to eternal life in heaven.GUARANTEED.Going back to the very beginning,the
foundation,the ground root,the very first basic teachings of Christianity beginning with ACTS 2:38 which is the key into the kingdom of God or heaven as preached by the apostle Peter given to him in Matthew 16:18-19. AMEN.