What constitutes a Christian denomination?

[One Bad Pig]

The first denomination and major cult was to become a state church and claimed itself as Catholic. Teaching water baptism was required to be born again. And the Lord's supper was required in order to have eternal life. Among other things.

This is nearly completely incorrect. It's a topic for another thread, however.

[37818]

You have been sounding like a Chinese fortune cookie lately. <snip>

". . . For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. . . . For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. . . ." -- 2 Corinthians 11:4, 13.

". . . But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. . . ." -- Galatians 1:8

The first denomination and major cult was to become a state church and claimed itself as Catholic. Teaching water baptism was required to be born again. And the Lord's supper was required in order to have eternal life. Among other things.

[Cow Poke]

Only things of perceived value are counterfeited.

You have been sounding like a Chinese fortune cookie lately. Do you also provide lottery numbers?

[37818]

That's really splitting hairs. From that article .... "“Denominations. A denomination is defined in this Encyclopedia as an organized aggregate of worship centers or congregations of similar ecclesiastical tradition within a specific country..."

Anyway, what's the point?

Only things of perceived value are counterfeited.

[Cow Poke]

http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a106.htm

Christianity has more sects than any other world religion. Of course not all are genuine Christianity.

That's really splitting hairs. From that article .... "“Denominations. A denomination is defined in this Encyclopedia as an organized aggregate of worship centers or congregations of similar ecclesiastical tradition within a specific country..."

Anyway, what's the point?

[37818]

http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a106.htm

Christianity has more sects than any other world religion. Of course not all are genuine Christianity.

[KingsGambit]

I've heard almost precisely the same statement from Catholics regarding the Reformation.

Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda...

[Boxing Pythagoras]

I just kind of find it hard to believe it would take the church 1800 years and suddenly a group of people would get it perfect

I've heard almost precisely the same statement from Catholics regarding the Reformation.

[KingsGambit]

The Churches of Christ (who claim they are not a denomination because of the autonomy of the local churches, but I'm not so sure I'd say they're not) are fairly adamant about it. I had one friend in high school who was involved with them who gave me a book explaining why every other denomination was wrong. One of the book's big problems with the Baptists (which was me) was allowing instrumental music in worship.

I just kind of find it hard to believe it would take the church 1800 years and suddenly a group of people would get it perfect

[One Bad Pig]

It's because it the ONLY place I see it.
I've never seen it happen on a large scale in any place where I've lived, and the "denominations" are pretty diverse.

You must not live near any Seventh Day Adventists.

[One Bad Pig]

Although the Russian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox are both autocephalous, they are in communion with one another and do not consider themselves denominations; they are both part of the universal church, like the other Orthodox jurisdictions in communion with them.

[Catholicity]

Why do I only see the whole other denominations hate denomination A/B only on the internet?

Because its ok to be a hater on the interwebs when you have a mask to cover your identity?

[KingsGambit]

There aren't many Protestant churches in New York City so there are a lot of house churches there. Do they all count as their own individual denomination for these numbers?

[rogue06]

I remember in the OLD days, we used to have "Race Relations Sunday" the Sunday closest to Valentine's Day. Us white preachers "traded pulpits*" with black preachers, and I just know I had a LOT more fun preaching to black congregations than the black preachers had preaching to white congregations.




*I always thought that was funny, cause the pulpits actually stayed with their respective churches.

Did you ever do an "Al Gore"? You know, start slipping into stereotypical black Baptist preacher mode of speech.

[RumTumTugger]

Ummm, only because they try to pretend they are. Christian Science is about as Christian as you are (have you ever read their theology?), the Mormons have an entire book and a prophet that makes 'new' revelations, WBC's theology is well... unique (to say the least), and the Jehovah's Witnesses also have written their own book and have their own 'unique theology'. If somebody is going to name off 'Christian Groups' (IE groups because many on the list are also not denominations, but groups), they might want to first define who they are calling 'Christian' and what they are defining as a 'denomination' because The Knight's Templar are about as much of a 'denomination' as the Masons are.

Christian Science is Neither.