How many different sects of Christianity there are?

Question

I know of some of the larger sects, such as Catholic, C of E, methodists, baptists, Jehovas Witness but what are the rest...?

Answer 1

According to the World Christian Encyclopedia there are 33,820 separate and distinct sects of Christianity in the world as of 2001,

Answer 2

Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a sect or a cult?

Some define sect to mean a group that has broken away from an established religion. Others apply the term to a group that follows a particular human leader or teacher. The term is usually used in a derogatory way. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not an offshoot of some church but include persons from all walks of life and from many religious backgrounds. They do not look to any human, but rather to Jesus Christ, as their leader.

A cult is a religion that is said to be unorthodox or that emphasizes devotion according to prescribed ritual. Many cults follow a living human leader, and often their adherents live in groups apart from the rest of society. The standard for what is orthodox, however, should be God’s Word, and Jehovah’s Witnesses strictly adhere to the Bible. Their worship is a way of life, not a ritual devotion. They neither follow a human nor isolate themselves from the rest of society. They live and work in the midst of other people.

And what religion do you have? From your point of view all Christians are part of a sect.

Answer 3

There are more than you can count and more starting every day. As the church divides people find things they dislike.

It first started that the catholic church was the only church. Then Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the church door and the church was split into Catholic and Protestant (Lutheran). Then within the Protestant church, John Calvin decided that he did not like music and art being a major part of church, and had his own ideas on religion, so the protestants separated into the Calvinists and the Lutherans, with the Catholic church still on the side. From the catholic church, the King of England was killing and divorcing his wives for not bearing sons, and the Pope got angry, so the King of England separated a church from the Catholics known as the Anglican church. This later became the Episcopalian church. Essentially there are major branches:

Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Calvinist. Each spawned several smaller congregations.

Like I said, there are too many churches for everyone to know all of them.

Answer 4

I recently read in Catholic Answers magazine that there are 2300 denominations of Christianity. There are this many because in some small country towns there are churches that only have a dozen members yet still consider themselves Christians. Today, almost anyone can start their own church or practice. But it's the Catholic church that is the only one that follows the authority that Jesus handed down to St. Peter, and that's the papacy.

Answer 5

Many hundreds of Christian cults ,sects, and small obscure groups exist, besides the more familiar big boys. They ALL make claims for their various systems, ALL of course are the `correct believers`, and many express enmity and hatred towards `other`groups. My favourite from this wide collection of delusions, are the Snake Handlers. Calling themselves Christian, they believe a Bible quote (Mark16: 17-18) which suggests that drinking poison and handling rattlesnakes, is normal behaviour.

Answer 6

There is probably too many to count at any one time, as they seem to pop up everywhere.

Some of your answers here speak about which one is right, which is debatable, but all Christian churches believe in Jesus Christ. Of course, that is what a Christian is, believer in Jesus Christ.

Answer 7

I read somewhere there are about 25,000 different sects that call themselves Christians. That may be very exaggerated. Obviously too numerous to name.

Answer 8

Here's a link. Anyway let's juts say that there's way too many to count. It's pretty ridiculous if you ask me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations

Answer 9

Too many. Brittannica lists them all. We ought to learn to love one another more and get closer together.

Answer 10

Too many...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations