Apostolic Apologetics: Denominations IntroductionThis document serves as a factual historical reference for the major forms of Christianity on Earth. This document:
List of DenominationsWho founded your Church? Have you ever asked yourself this question?Catholic Year: Pentecost; 33 A.D. Location: Jerusalem Founder: Jesus Christ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church Official Website: http://www.vatican.va/ Orthodox Year: 1056 Location: Constantinople Founder: Apostolic; Schismatic Catholic Bishops split from the rest of the Church in 1056. See East-West-Schism Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church Official Website (Greek Orthodox): http://www.goarch.org/ Additional Links: Orthodox Wiki: http://orthodoxwiki.org/ Waldensians (Vaudois) Year: 1177 Location: Italy Founder: Peter Waldo Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldensians Official Website: http://www.chiesavaldese.org/indexen.html An heretical sect which appeared in the second half of the twelfth century and, in a considerably modified form, has survived to the present day. Formally declared heretics by Pope Lucius III in 1184 and by the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215. Often argued to be of "ancient origin" however these claims are easily proven false (as they have been) by scholars (see more about that topic on the Wikipedia Page). The respected Waldensian scholar Dr. Emilio Comba dismissed the theories related to the ancient origin of the Waldensians in the middle of the 19th century. Lutheran Year: 1517 Location: Germany Founder: Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran Official Websites: Various - Many Splinter groups. http://www.celc.info/ (CELC) or http://www.ilc-online.org/ (ILC) or http://www.lutheranworld.org/ (LWF) According to a report written by Philipp Melanchthon, Luther posted the Ninety-five Theses on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. This is the only documented account of the story. Scholars question the accuracy of this account, noting that no contemporaneous evidence exists for it. It is likely that this detail is a theatrical elaboration.
See Also: Nazi Lutheranism Anabaptist Year: 1521 Location: Germany Founder: Nicholas Storch & Thomas Müntzer Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptist A violent and extremely radical body of ecclesiastico-civil reformers which first made it's appearance in 1521 at Zwickau, in the present kingdom of Saxony, and still exists in milder forms. Church of England (Anglican) Year: 1534 Location: England Founder: King Henry VIII of England Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_England Official Website: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/ The English church was under papal authority for nearly a thousand years, before separating from Rome in 1534 during the reign of King Henry VIII. A theological separation had been foreshadowed by various movements within the English church such as the Lollards, but the English Reformation gained political support when Henry VIII wanted an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Anne Boleyn. Under pressure from Catherine's nephew, the Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, Pope Clement VII refused the annulment. Eventually, Henry, although theologically a doctrinal Catholic, took the position of Supreme Head of the Church of England to ensure the annulment of his marriage. He was excommunicated by Pope Paul III. The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Catherine of Aragon m. 1509 - 1533 Divorced so he could marry Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn m. 1533 - 1536 Executed by Henry VIII Jane Seymour m. 1536 - 1537 Died as a result of Child birth, though not immediately. Anne of Cleves m. 1540 Jan. - July Divorced so he could marry Kathryn Howard. Kathryn Howard m. 1540 - 1542 Executed by Henry VIII Catherine Parr m. 1543 - 1547 Outlived Henry VIII Mennonites Year: 1536 Location: Switzerland Founder: Menno Simons (Anabaptist Religious Leader) Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mennonites Official Website: http://www.mwc-cmm.org/ Summary: A Protestant denomination of Europe and America which arose in Switzerland in the sixteenth century and derived it's name from Menno Simons, it's leader in Holland. Menno Simons was born in 1492 at Witmarsum in Friesland. In 1515 or 1516 he was ordained to the Catholic priesthood and appointed assistant at Pingjum not far from Witmarsum. After (1532) he was named pastor of his native place, but 12 January, 1536, resigned his charge and became an Anabaptist elder. The rest of his life was devoted to the interests of the new sect which he had joined. Though not an imposing personality he exercised no small influence as a speaker and more particularly as a writer among the more moderate holders of Anabaptist views. His death occurred 13 January, 1559, at Wustenfelde in Holstein. The opinions held by Menno Simons and the Mennonites originated in Switzerland. Calvinist Year: 1555 Location: Switzerland Founder: John Calvin Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism Official Website: NA - Various (No central Leadership) Presbyterian Year: 1560 Location: Scotland Founder: John Knox Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian Official Website (USA): http://www.pcusa.org/ Presbyterianism in a wide sense is the system of church government by representative assemblies called presbyteries, in opposition to government by bishops (episcopal system, prelacy), or by congregations (congregationalism, independence), in it's strict sense, Presbyterianism is the name given to one of the groups of ecclesiastical bodies that represent the features of Protestantism emphasized by Calvin. Of the various churches modeled on the Swiss Reformation, the Swiss, Dutch, and some German are known as the Reformed; the French as Huguenots; those in Bohemia and Hungary by their national names; the Scotch, English, and derived churches as Presbyterian. There is a strong family resemblance between all these churches, and many of them have given their adherence to an "Alliance of the Reformed Churches throughout the World holding the Presbyterian System", formed in 1876 with the special view of securing interdenominational cooperation in general church work. Congregational Year: 1582 Location: Holland Founder: Robert Browne Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_church Baptist Year: 1609 Location: Netherlands (Amsterdam) Founder: John Smyth Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist Official Website: N/A - Various In 1609, John Smyth led a group of separatists to the Netherlands to start the General Baptist Church with an Arminian theology. Dutch Reformed Year: 1628 Location: New York, United States Founder: Michaelis Jones Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Reformed Official Website: Unknown Congregationalist Year: 1648 Location: Massachusetts, United States Founder: American Pilgrims and Puritans Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregationalism Official Website (UK): http://www.congregational.org.uk/ Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) Year: 1649 Location: England Founder: George Fox Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Society_of_Friends Official Website: http://www.christianquaker.net/ The official designation of an Anglo-American religious sect originally styling themselves "Children of Truth" and "Children of Light", but "in scorn by the world called Quakers". Amish Year: 1693 Location: France Founder: Jacob Amman (Anabaptist Leader) Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish Official Website: Most Amish do not use computers. No Central leadership, various splinter groups. Freemasons Year: 1717 Location: London, England Founder: Masons from four lodges Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry Official Website: Ask your local temple. Methodist Year: 1739 Location: England Founder: John Wesley (Anglican Priest) and Charles Wesley Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist Official Website: (Became United Methodist -- See Below) Methodism is an "break away" of the Anglican Church which broke from the Catholic Church formally in 1536. Unitarian Year: 1774 Location: London, England Founder: Theophilus Lindey Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarianism Official Website: http://www.uua.org/ Methodist Episcopal Year: 1784 Location: Baltimore, Maryland, United States Founder: 60 Preachers Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Episcopal_Church Official Website: (Became United Methodist -- See Below) Episcopalian Year: 1789 Location: American Colonies Founder: Samuel Seabury Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_Church Official Website: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ Timeline:
United Brethren Year: 1800 Location: Maryland, United States Founder: Philip William Otterbein & Martin Boehm Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_United_Brethren Official Website: http://www.ub.org/ Disciples of Christ Year: 1827 Location: Kentucky, United States Founder: Thomas Campbell & Alexander Campbell Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disciples_of_Christ Official Website: http://www.disciples.org/ Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Year: 1830 Location: New York, United States Founder: Joseph Smith Jr. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism Official Websites: http://www.lds.org/ or http://mormon.org/
"Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God. I say that is a strange God [anyhow]--three in one and one in three. . .It is curious organization… All are crammed into one God according to sectarianism (Christian faith). It would make the biggest God in all the world. He would be a wonderfully big God--he would be a giant or a monster," (Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 372). Methodist Protestant Year: 1830 Location: United States Founder: Former members of the Methodist Episcopal Church Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Protestant Website: (See United Methodist - Below) Church of Christ Year: 1836 Location: Kentucky, United States Founder: Barton Warren Stone & Alexander Campbell Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churches_of_Christ Official Website: http://cconline.faithsite.com/ Seventh Day Adventist Year: 1844 Location: Washington, New Hampshire, United States Founder: Ellen G. White Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church Official Website: http://www.adventist.org/ "We fully recognize the heartening fact that a host of true followers of Christ are scattered all through the various churches of Christendom, including the Roman Catholic communion. These God clearly recognizes as His own. Such do not form a part of the "Babylon" portrayed in the Apocalypse." – Questions on Doctrine, p. 197Christadelphian (Brethren of Christ ) Year: 1844 Location: Richmond, VA Founder: John Thomas Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christadelphians Official Website: http://www.christadelphia.org/ Salvation Army Year: 1865 Location: London Founder: "General" William Booth Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvation_Army Official Website: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ Holiness Year: 1867 Location: United States Founder: Methodists Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiness_movement Official Website: http://mb-soft.com/believe/text/holiness.htm Jehovah's Witnesses Year: 1874 Location: Pennsylvania, United States Founder: Charles Taze Russell Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses Official Website: http://www.watchtower.org/ or http://www.jw-media.org/ or http://www.jw.org/ Jehovah's Witnesses:
Christian Science Year: 1879 Location: Boston, United States Founder: Mary Baker Eddy Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Science Official Website: http://www.csmonitor.com/ Church of God in Christ Year: 1895 Location: Arkansas, United States Founder: Various churches of God Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_God_in_Christ Official Website: http://www.cogic.com/ Church of Nazarene Year: c. 1850-1900 Location: Pilot Point, Texas, United States Founder: Various religious bodies Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nazarene Official Website: http://www.nazarene.org/ Pentecostal Year: 1901 Location: Topeka, Kansas, United States Founder: Charles Fox Parham Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostalism Official Website: http://www.upci.org/ Aglipayan Year: 1902 Location: Philippines Founder: Gregorio Aglipay Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Independent_Church Official Website: http://www.santa.gov.ph/ilocossur/heroisabelo.html Assemblies of God Year: 1914 Location: Hot Springs, Arizona, United States Founder: Pentecostalism Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblies_of_God Official Website: http://ag.org/ Iglesia ni Christo Year: 1914 Location: Philippines Founder: Felix Manalo Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_ni_Cristo Four-square Gospel Year: 1917 Location: Los Angeles, California, United States Founder: Aimee Semple McPherson Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Church_of_the_Foursquare_Gospel Official Website: http://www.foursquare.org/ United Church of Christ Year: 1961 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Founder: Reformed and Congregationalist Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ Official Website: http://www.ucc.org/ Calvary Chapel Year: 1965 Location: Costa Mesa, California, United States Founder: Chuck Smith Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvary_Chapel Official Website: http://www.calvarychapel.com/ United Methodist Year: 1968 Location: Dallas, Texas, United States Founder: Methodist and United Brethren Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Methodist_Church Official Website: http://www.umc.org/ Born-again Year: Circa 1970s Location: United States Founder: Various religious bodies (or lack thereof). Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_again_Christianity Harvest Christian Year: 1972 Founder: Greg Laurie Location: Riverside, California, United States Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_Christian_Fellowship Official Website: http://www.harvest.org/ Saddleback Year: 1982 Location: California, United States Founder: Rick Warren Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddleback Official Website: http://www.saddleback.com/index.html Non-denominational ("Bible Teaching" or "Bible Church") Year: Circa 1990s Location: United States Founder: Various Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-denominational Official Website: There's nothing official in non-denominationalism. This form of "Christianity" is also known as Ecclesial Deism, and shares in common with Mormonism the explicit denial of constant visible preservation of Church hierarchy, and Apostolic Succession, both of which are Biblical, and therefore causes these "Churches" to be heretical. (cf. Matthew 16:18, 18:18). DiscussionChrist founded one Church. He declared that his Church would last for all time, and never fall into apostasy. He gave Peter and the other Apostles specific authority according to scriptures . Since the time of Christ, the One True, Holy and Apostolic Church has survived. No gaps, no apostasy. True to the Word of God.Christ said that the Gates of Hell will never prevail against his Church (Matthew 16:18), that his Church is the light of the world and that a City set on a Hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). This means that the Church he founded is a visible Church that will endure until the last day. No amount of foolishness, misguided zeal, or cruelty by man can undo the divine foundation of the Church or send it into apostasy. Related Scriptural ConsiderationsThe Bible condemns exactly what we see outside of Catholic Orthodoxy today.St. Matthew 16:18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. St. Matthew 16:19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. Ephesians 1:22 And he hath subjected all things under his feet and hath made him head over all the church, Ephesians 1:23 Which is his body and the fullness of him who is filled all in all. Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no schisms among you: but that you be perfect in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:11 For it has been reported to me by Chlo'e's people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith: I indeed am of Paul; and I am of Apollo; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul then crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men? 1 Corinthians 12:25 That there might be no schism in the body: but the members might be mutually careful one for another. 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and members of member. 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors: after that miracles: then the graces of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches. Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them. Romans 16:18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. Titus 3:10 A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid: Titus 3:11 Knowing that he that is such an one is subverted and sinneth, being condemned by his own judgment. Jude 1:19 It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. Man made Christianity
Facts and statisticsNote: These statistics come from a Protestant Scholar, not Catholics.According to the Dictionary of Christianity in America (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1990); a Protestant publication: "As of 1980 David B. Barrett identified 20,800 Christian denominations worldwide . . ." (Source: Denominationalism, Page 351). According to United Nations statistics there are over 23,000 competing and often contradictory denominations worldwide. This number is growing. (Source: World Census of Religious Activities: U.N. Information Center, NY, 1989). The 2001 edition of the Dictionary of Christianity in America, successor to his 1982 first edition, which took a decade to compile, identifies 10,000 distinct religions, of which 150 have 1 million or more followers. Within Christianity, he counts 33,820 denominations. Above I shine some light on the foundation of some of the more common man made denominations. If you feel there is a denomination I have omitted that should be listed, please leave a comment on the bottom of this document and I will evaluate it. Note: Obviously I cannot include all 33,820+ denominations. Many of the listed denominations themselves have offshoots spring from them like a never ending mutation. If you need a complete list I suggest purchasing The World Encyclopedia of Christianity. Other non-denominationalists commonly hail under the flag of "Bible Teaching" or "Non Denominational" yet are distinguishable from each other due to differing theologies, doctrine, scriptural interpretations, and member bases. |
|
|
Visitors 
|
Denominations |