What are the differences between christian denominations such as luthern, methodist, baptist, etc?

Question

Can someone point me possibly to a good book or website that compares different denominations of the christian religion?

Answer 1

There is a book that has all the denominations in it and what they believe. Just ask your bookstore to do a search on denominations, they should be able to get it for you.

For example: You have the Catholic church, the Lutherans are a branch from her, as well as the Methodist.

Answer 2

Here is the basic difference:

They all think that Scripture teaches different things and so have split into separate Protestant denominations, each with different (sometimes contradicting) doctrines and worship styles.

There is not a website large enough to cover the some 22000 plus Protestant sects and denominations but a current 2007 Almanac is a great place to read descriptions of the biggest ones.

The Catholic Church can be well explained here:
www.catholic.com

God bless

Answer 3

I have compiled a brief history of how most denominations originated; e-mail me and I can send it to you.
Basically, Baptists, "Church of Christ," Pentecostals, and many independents belief baptism is immersion and sprinkling will not do; Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopals, Presbyterians, and Catholics sprinkle for baptism. The difference between these last five is mostly a matter of organization, not doctrine, except that only the Catholics have a Pope. Baptists emphasize salvation by faith. Most "Church of Christ" think it is wrong to have musical instruments in church; a few liberals still use the name "Church of Christ" and have musical instruments. Pentecostals, including Assembly of God and Church of God, believe miracles and gifts of the Spirit are still active in the church. A small minority of practically all denominations claim to have experienced "speaking in other tongues," but officially, most denominations don't approve of the experience. The think it was just for the apostles.

Answer 4

You are better off with the Lutheran church instead of
the Methodist or Baptist
because the Baptist churches and some Methodist
churches are way to strict and harsh on people

And the only way to find a website on these churches
is to look up http:www.churches.com and see if this works

Answer 5

Most of the differences in these churches is in the form their worship service takes. Some churches use modern music, others use old hymns. Some preach loud, others not so much. The underlying beliefs are the same.

I would visit several churches in your area and just see where you feel comfortable. I would also visit some websites of the churches you mentioned and read their mission statements.

Answer 6

Really the only book you need to compare a denomination (church) to is the Bible! If someone teaches what the Bible says, accept it! If they teach something else, reject it!

Notice Acts 17:11, "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so"

The many denominations should not exist.

Notice what 1 Corinthians 1:10 says;"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Why do we have so many? Men are not satisfied to all speak the same thing. Men are not satisfied to teach only the word of God. Men are not satisfied to only speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent. Men are not content to do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names. Too many wish to add their own desires and teach their own doctrine.

Notice 2 Timothy 4:2-4.
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

We should return to the Bible as our authority and only guide book. We should have a "thus saith the Lord" for everything we teach and do as a church.

The Bible teaches that the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23) and that there is only "one body" (Eph 4:4).When the church first began, there were no denominations.

In Acts 2, we see that about 3000 all heard the same message, all understood it the same way, all believed it the same way and all obeyed it the same way. The result was they became Christians - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. At this point, God added them to His church (Acts 2:47).

There is no authorization for Christians to "join the church of your choice", but they were added to Christ's church!

After they became Christians they continued in one accord in fellowship and together in the apostles doctrine. (Acts 2:42-47)

Today, if we read and understand what they understood, believe what they believed, and do only what they did, without adding any man-made doctrine, we will become only what they became - Christians!

This is the goal and plea of those who meet together under the name "church of Christ" today. We only want to be the church you can read about in the Bible.

Christ is the head of the church, therefore we have no "headquarters" on Earth that oversees the local congregation, but each congregation goes directly to the Bible to see what should be taught and practiced.

We only want to follow God's word in our name (Rom. 16:16), worship, organization, and teaching. The word of God is sufficient for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction. Using it in this way, we can be completely furnished with everything we need, and there is no need to add any man-made doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Those who teach as doctrine the commandments of men have form of worship that is vain. (Matt 15:9)

Answer 7

Basically it's all the same goal with different means of going about it.

Answer 8

(Scroll Down when you get to the Website)
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/denominations_beliefs.htm

Answer 9

You don't need a book to find out the difference, it's money.

Answer 10

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations.htm