Is "Non-Denominational" the same as "Undeclared"?

Question

why wouldn't it let me use Non-Demoninational up there? Y! has strange censorship.

Answer 1

Yes and no... how's that for an answer?

A church can be non-denominational - meaning it does not choose to associate with another church or specific denomination's teachings or doctrine.

Undeclared - I think that's more on a personal level, where a person is has not stated what religion or denomination. e.g. on various forms for the hospitals, etc.

Hope that helps...

Answer 2

Non-Denominational is an interesting term.
You won't find a hierarchy in the New Testament.

The Church of Christ is a denomination which calls itself
Non-Denominational.

There are several Baptist denominations which are based on churches cooperating with other churches that believe mostly the same things.

I used to hear Roman Catholic teachers talk about how they hated the term denomination. They used to refer to "other faiths". Now with ecumenism, they don't talk that way, but they do wish everyone would be in the same organization.

Answer 3

As the word is usually used, 'non-denominational' means that the group doesn't have a particular headquarters, but accepts all denominations.

The church of the Bible is "anti-denominational"; it is against the division that people have come to accept (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Answer 4

"Non-denominational" implies a Christian belief system outside of the organized religious groups. "Undeclared" seems to me to imply no particular religious affiliation, Christian or otherwise. I don't think it's censorship, so much as failing to draw a distinction and include the choice. Many people who don't claim belief in any particular religion identify themselves as either Agnostics (meaning they believe we don't and probably can't know the answer to questions about God, whether or not he exists), and Atheists (who claim there is no God of any stripe). Sometimes, the choice "spiritual but not religious" is given as a category for people who aren't even comfortable taking one of those positions.

Answer 5

Sometimes. That's sort of how I understand Universalism.

There are some fundamentalists who feel the body of Christ should not be divided into denominations or wear any name but Christian. So rather than being Baptist or Pentecostal or whatever denomination, they are just plain Christian with no denominational title.

Answer 6

Slight difference, in my opinion. The first is someone who does believe in organized religion, but not a specific sect of the religion. For example, a non-denominational christian church instead of catholic, baptist, lutheran, etc.

Undeclared seems more like agnostic, or possibly just not choosing a religion.

Answer 7

non denominational is similar to undeclaired. Undeclaired means you dont want to disclose what you are or are unsure of beliefs. Non denominational means you do not believe in a denomination. They essentially can be used similarly

Answer 8

Non-Denominational means: Not restricted to or associated with a religious denomination. I attended a non-denominational church when I was younger and it was just general Christian beliefs.

Answer 9

No, it means you believe in God and Jesus Christ as your savior. Your non-denominational because you do not believe in segregating the church into different factions, especially because it specifically states in the bilbe that there is only one Church.

Answer 10

It's not censorship, it's just that the word was too long to fit in their big title font, so it was attenuated.