What are the different atmospheres throughout church denominations?

Question

Please do not mention how denominations are not needed. Please go somewhere else with your arrogant attitudes.

I'm looking for a denomination, and while I am going to try many, I am curious how they differ from each other in terms of what is allowed in church (music, etc.), the activities they undertake outside of church (camps), and the general atmosphere inside of church.

Any help you can give would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

Answer 1

You haven't identified the faith group that you belong to, which is I think your first step in finding what suits your style of worship the best. Are you Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish? Or something outside of mainstream Christianity? Are you liturgical (unified worship following specific, usually written, forms), nonliturgical ("free", spontaneous worship), or semi-liturgical (free worship but forms for baptism, for example)? What do baptism and communion mean to you? Baptists and fundamentalist faiths believe in adult immersion, Catholic, Anglican, and Reformed/Presbyterian faiths believe in infant baptism. Communion can be looked at as transubstantiation (Christ physically present in the elements), consubstantiation (Christ "with" but not present in the elements), and spiritual presence (undefined).

Liturgical and semi-liturgical churches will be much more formal and use choirs and non-percussion instruments (piano, organ, perhaps some guitar). Nonliturgical churches will use drums and electronic instruments. Semi-liturgical will have a mix.

Outreach programs are common to most of mainstream Christian faiths. Women's, men's, youth, and specialty ministries are common. Liturgical and semi-liturgical groups generally attract the more mature crowd, and nonliturgical attracts the younger set, although I'm making some generalizations here.

Dress in these churches will range from white-collar business attire to Jean cutoffs & T-shirt, but casual will probably be more than adequate for most situations. Expect friendliness from everyone, but try to look beyond the clothes and see the hearts and of course the specific beliefs involved in what could be your home church for many years.

Answer 2

James, you have a big task ahead of you if you want to find the true church. I undertook that when I was in college. I didn't know then that there are as many as 33,820 Christian denominations* in the world. But if you're looking for one that satisfies your ideas of faith then the task may be easier.

Answer 3

well I can speak on behalf of the catholics, as I am a catholic. We attend mass on sundays and holy days of obligation, many are very friendly, there is also a fraternal organization of high regards associated with the Catholic Church. Common missconseptions are that we worship mary, we dont. Worship the saints. we dont.

OVer all its a nice church and I am proud to be a member.

Answer 4

here is a link to my pov on the subject.... and if youare interested you may browse the rest.
http://pages.zdnet.com/mikevanauken/outreach/id24.html

even within "denominations" there is wide veriance in activities...litterally thousands of differences.... just in the Baptists alone there are over three thousand different kinds...... you will never get them all sorted out and visited.