Why are there different denominations of Christianity?

Question

When there is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Sprit...
We're all praising the same entity..

Answer 1

Definitely a man-made thing. Believe me, God never intended his relationship with humans to get so... political and categorical. It was man (don't ask me who, that's another question) that thought things might make more sense if we divided amongst ourselves into common beliefs, even though the heart of those beliefs was essentially at one time the same. You were right about that.

A lot of times, people want a religion that fits them. It's understandable, and well, human. Nowadays, we like things to be tailored to us, to make us more comfortable. Like "My Yahoo" (which I love, by the way), Favorites settings on DirecTv, computer profiles for each member of the family, order it just the way you like it- they even have Kitchen Aid blenders in almost every color! Anyway, my point is, people like things to fit who they are. Christianity isn't supposed to work like that.

I once heard a powerful quote: "If you want religion to give you comfort, Christianity is not for you." You touched on it in your question a bit... true "religion" can't be tailored to you and who you are... if it is and does, then you aren't worshipping anything other than yourself and what YOU want. It's not about you. (I don't mean you, the asker, just "you" like everybody in general, no offense).

So, I agree with you. I'll step off my lil soapbox ;) and leave you with this thought: Remember, it's not religion, it's relationship. If everyone would remember that, things like "My denomination is right, yours is mistaken," wouldn't really matter; instead, who you do it for and why you do it, would.

Answer 2

This is, in a way, more of an historical question. Protestantism errupted from the Protestant Reformation, which began with Martin Luther's attempt to pull the Roman Catholic Church back into allignment with Scripture. (He was not intending to break away from the church.) He had a list of things he believed need to change within the church.

There are three main principles which underpin fundamental Protestantism: Scripture Alone (the Bible is the only and final absolute authority in matters of faith), Christ Alone (We are saved only through faith in Jesus Christ), Grace Alone (We are saved only by Grace, which is given by God and cannot be earned). These things are often referred to as "fundamental" or "foundational" truths. The belief in and adherance to these principles is what divides between some religions, especially those that are "works" based.

Protestants that all agree on these fundamental truths may disagree in the area of "supplemental" truths. Things that may be important to our faith, but not to our salvation. For example, what will be our structure and practice of communion and of baptism? Differences over supplemental truths lead to different denominations.

Within a denomination individual churches often disagree over what could be called "incidental" truths. These things are not spelled out specifically in Scripture and are open to personal taste. For example, will we use robes and a formal structure to our service? Will we have a choir? a band? How will the congregation come dressed to our church? What will be the style of the music?

Yes, the Bible teaches unity within the church, and how we treat each other is very important. But different people are reached in different ways. Some people feel they need more formality to be drawn into worship while others find such formality a hindrance.

Answer 3

there are different denominations because people have never been able to wholeheartedly agree on religion. Sometimes the disagreement is based on different interpretation or application of the exact same words. Sometimes there are incompatibilities with current social beliefs. Good examples of this would be attitudes towards race and gender. the average christian 100 years ago would find nothing wrong with a woman having her place in the kitchen and would for the most part be appalled at women ministers. Social climates change and religion tends to reflect that.

Answer 4

It is a result of the Protestant reformation in the 16th Century, which began by Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the cathedral door. Luther was mostly annoyed by the practice of indulgences, which is basically paying a lot of money in order to gain access into heaven.

As a result he started his own denomination of Christianity, know as Lutheranism.

From there, many other people and groups split from the Roman Catholic church and created their own Protestant denominations.

This was only the start of many, many other christian churches starting and they have all been created for a variety or reasons.

Answer 5

There are two big factors that contribute to there being different denominations.

The first being the different ways people interperate the bible. Because of the sometimes cryptic way it is worded, not everyone agrees on all of the details of the text.

The second being culture. Many denominations were "born" so to speak into a certain culture, thus causing that denomination to carry on some of those cultural practices and points of views.

Answer 6

1. The catholics have more 'books' in the Bible than most 'Protestant' religions do.
2. Since man is a false god, he may or may not have applied' more fully the 'two or more witnesses' principle given first to the Jews (alluded to about three times between Deut. 10-20) and later to the Christians Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1. I believe if one applies the two or more witnesses principle to scriptures, one will find the scriptural 'old testament' is the law of Moses, not Genesis-Malachi. If one wants an elaboration; email me personally.

Answer 7

If I want to accept some things and reject others, what can I do to have things MY way? Start a new denomination!!! Then if it gets to where I don't like where it is going and want things my way again what do I do? Start another denomination!!! Praising the same God but if you don't like something the bible says, just reject it and start another church so you can do it YOUR way rather than God's way. That is why so many today.

Answer 8

We started out with one--The Roman Catholic Church. The in the 1500s the Anglicans and Lutherans split off because of disagreements with the church. From there, people and groups continued to split and go their separate ways for various reasons: the right way to worship, interpretation of the scriptures, how the church was governed, etc. New churches continue to pop up simply because everybody is different and will see things differently.

Answer 9

Well, it's mostly just because people don't agree on what styles of music we should use to worship with, or how often we should take communion. You're very right about the Trinity though. It's a lot like the different kinds of apples you can get. They're all apples they just taste a little different and have different sizes and colors...

Answer 10

Christ wide-unfold one Church only in 33 ad, his Church, the body of Christ. All Christians initially belonged to Christ's Church. in the course of the sixteenth century, severe dissensions occurred and massive communities grew to change into separated from finished communion with the Catholic Church. those communities invented their personal denominations and changed their Bibles in protest to the Church. the end result's we've over 30,000 distinct guy-made denominations, sects and cults of Christianity who can not believe one yet another, even on straightforward Scripture.