In regards to Christianity, do the different churches represent various branches of christianity?

Question

For example, Latitudinarian, Presbyterian, Baptist, churches.

Answer 1

Different churches represent different leaders of christianity. Methodist, for example, represents the teachings of Mr. John Wesley. Presbyterian represents the teachings of Mr. John Calvin.

Catholicism, however, represents the teachings of Christ, who founded His Church with Peter as its first leader.

Answer 2

They majority of protestant churches on vary on doctrine to a slight degree, and they recognize each other as fellow Christians. The different denominations formed in many different historical contexts but believe pretty much the same thing. While a few groups embrace theology that is considered heresy, most get along well while disagreeing on more minor points. For example:

1) Some time ago, the Free Methodist Church and Wesleyan Church were considering merging. The only reason this did not happen was because their organizational structures were very different.

2) Some denominations believe that once you accept Christ you will always be saved, while others believe that you can walk away from God after being saved. While they disagree on these points, they consider each other brothers and sisters in Christ.

These are just two examples. Most protestants believe that if you give your heart to Jesus, you are a Christian and a brother or sister in Christ, even if you have some disagreements about doctrine or go to a different church. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

Answer 3

You might call them "various branches".

Sometimes there are great differences in theology.
Sometimes practically no difference in theology other than differences in how they think the church should be "governed".

Presbyterian -- believe in government by Elders, Church Elders, Kirk Session and Presbytery, etc.

Presbyterians, mostly, baptize infants, usually with "sprinkling"

Baptists rarely if ever baptise infants; only those able to "answer" for themselves., usually by immersion; probably some immerse once, others might immerse three times.

If we all believe in One God Who exists in three "persons"; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. If we believe in the Atoning Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the Exclusivity of Jesus Christ as the Only way of Salvation ... then we have much in common though we want to "do" Christianity in differing ways.

Latitudinarians of the 17th Century probably were the forerunners of the modern "Liberal" churches.

The undecided answer is "how liberal", "how broad" can a person or a group be and yet still be within "Orthodox" Christianity.

Answer 4

The various denominations mostly exist because their founders taught something different than the Catholic church - Martin Luther wanted to see some immoral practices in the catholic church cleaned up. Instead, he was thrown out. People began coming to him for teaching, and the Lutheran church was formed. The Baptists withdrew from the others because they didn't believe that government and church should be joined, and that no one should be forced to join or support a particular church. Baptist churches are all independent and decisions are made democratically.

Answer 5

Yea pretty much but for the most part there are just 2 major branches of Christianity.......Catholic and nonCatholic

catholics are the people headed by the pope....usally stricter and more devote and have more of a quite mass bassed solely on the bible

noncatholics are everything else and are the people that usally have very energetic masses sometimes coralating to person expiriences of the reverend

Answer 6

Jesus never intended "branches" of Christianity, especially "branches" with conflicting doctrinal beliefs. That's why He founded only ONE Church. That's why He said that His followers were to remain ONE, even as He and His heavenly Father are ONE. What denominations represent are deviations from the will of God, and rejection of much of what God intended for His Church.

Answer 7

They have one thing in common, Jesus is their savior. They have different styles of worship and some different interpretation of scripture. We as Christians need to find common ground and unite.