Christian Denominations

"The branches of Christ's church have developed diverse traditions that enlarge our store of shared understandings."
--United Methodist Church official website

"Our divisions should never be discussed except in the presence of those who have already come to believe that there is one God and that Jesus Christ is his only Son."
--C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

"The World Council of Churches is a community of churches on the way to visible unity in one faith and one eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ. "
--World Council of Churches website

Over the centuries, Christianity has divided into numerous denominations. Each denomination has its own distinctive beliefs or practices, but they are commonly considered branches of the same religion because they agree on such fundamentals as the Bible, the Trinity, and the teachings of the Nicene Creed.

The way in which members regard other denominations varies from mutual respect and acceptance to suspicion and denial that the other group is really "Christian."

The three main branches of Christianity are Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant (and some would add Anglican). Most of the denominations that exist today developed in the 500 years since the Protestant Reformation and fall under the "Protestant" category.

This section provides information on some of the major denominations that exist today, along with a brief history of how there came to be so many and many comparisons of their similarities and differences.

Brief History of Denominations Trace the history of Christian denominations, from early offshoot groups to the explosion of new churches in the 16th century Reformation.
Denomination Comparison Charts See the similarities and differences between denominations with charts comparing history, beliefs, practices and ethical views.
	Roman Catholic Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian group that exists today, with more than a billion adherents.
	Eastern Orthodox The Orthodox Church became a distinct branch in the 11th century "Great Schism." It is prominent in Russia, Greece and nearby areas.
	Protestant Protestantism encompasses numerous denominations and embraces a wide theological spectrum, but all share certain distinctives.
	Anglican/Episcopalian Anglicanism is characterized by a via media (middle way) between Catholicism and Protestantism.
	Amish The Amish are members of an Anabaptist Christian denomination who are especially known for their separation from society and rejection of modern technology.
	Baptists Baptists are the largest of the Free Church denominations and are characterized by adult baptism and encouraging religious freedom and separation of church and state.
	Lutheran Lutheranism, based on the teachings of Martin Luther, is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world today.
	Presbyterian Presbyterian and Reformed churches share a common origin in the 16th-century Swiss Reformation and the teachings of John Calvin.
	Seventh-day Adventists A group known for its Sabbath observance, expectation of Christ, and emphasis on physical health.