Why are there so many denominations and sub denominations in christianity?

Question

I dont understand why there are so many denominations in christianity alone. The same phenomonon is in other major religions also why is that. who is wrong who is right and why do some denominations hate the other denominations to some degree.

Answer 1

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."

Jesus prayed for such unity in John 17:20-21.

Why do we have so many divisions? 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 the church Christ built and purchased! (Matt. 16:18, Acts 20:27)

After they became Christians they continued in one accord in fellowship and together in the apostles doctrine. (Acts 2:42-47) They had the type of unity Christians should have.

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.

A denomination is larger than the local congregation, but smaller than the universal church. Since the church of Christ congregations are autonomous, only governed by local congregations, with no regional, national, or world-wide "headquatrers" they are not a denomination. There is no man-made organization in between the local congregation (which is not a denomination) and the church as a whole (which is not a denomination).

We only want to follow God's word in our name (Rom. 16:16), method of worship, organization, and teaching (doctrine). 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)

I invite you to examine the Church of Christ by a comparison with the scriptures! If the things we teach are scriptural, found in the Scriptures, then accept them. If the things we teach contradict the Bible, then reject them!

Any church that claims to follow the Bible should not object to such a comparison to scriptures. In fact, they should encourage it!

Answer 2

First off you can make Christianity a religion or you can make it a relationship. As a religion its like all the others. But as a relationship it becomes a way of life. And now to answer your question I believe that the reason there are so many denominations and sub denominations is that we human beings love to fight and argue as the result of our egoism (which is a sin within itself). We always think “we” have the right way to salvation. In my opinion as long as the denomination teaches the basics (that Christ came died for our sin, that He is the only way to God, etc.) then there is always the possibility that out of the religion real relationship can happen. And if you really think about it doesn’t really matter all that other stuff isn’t going to get you into heaven or prevent you to go into heaven

Answer 3

There are so many denominations for several reasons. (1) Each denomination has a slightly different doctrine or emphasis from the others. (2) As people started churches, they simply gave them different names. (3) Denominations are good in that if you attended a Baptist church in one town, and then moved to another town, you could attend a similar Baptist church in the new town. The Lutheran denomination was named after Martin Luther. The Methodists got their name because their founder, John Wesley, was famous for coming up with “methods” for spiritual growth. Presbyterians are named for their view on church leadership - the Greek word for elder is "presbyteros." Baptists got their name because they have always emphasized the importance of baptism.



We, as believers, must believe the same on the essentials of the faith, but beyond that there is great latitude in how a Christian should worship, serve, and live his life. This latitude is what causes so many different flavors of Christianity. Diversity is a good thing, but disunity is not. If two churches disagree doctrinally, it is fine that they remain separate. This separation, though, does not lift the responsibility Christians have to love one another (1 John 4:11-12) – and ultimately be united as one in Christ (John 17:21-22).

Answer 4

Why not? There are many denominations and subdenominations in psychology, philosophy, politics, etc. People organize around common opinions. As much as we would like every possible scenario spelled out for us in concrete terms, complex philosophical and theological systems provoke difference responses in different folks.

Difference in denominations, or even between major religions does not imply that one is right or that one is wrong. All religions and all denominations agree on certain points - and, coincidentally, the points that they agree on are usually the points that their religious literature emphasizes above all others (like moral behavior based on empathy and the conscience, or the immortality of the soul, the idea of consequences for moral actions, the recognition of Deity, etc.).

Religion is no different than any other speculative pursuit. Just because a psychologist devotes more time and effort to the study of Freud does not imply that Jung and Adler were wrong. Just because I like Aristotle does not imply that Spinoza was wrong. We have no problem with folks organizing around a specific philosophy or psychological model, but somehow we expect all religion to line up in neat, straight lines.

Answer 5

The whole answer to your question is 2 simple words that make a most complex issue: HUMAN NATURE. Just as you would be hard put to find two people who agree on the time of day, you would be much more hard put to find 2 people who agree on the nature and person of God. If someone is a true believer and follower of God, he will not hate someone for disagreeing with his/her personal beliefs, but again, human nature being what it is, many do. We are a pretty stupid people, after all. By the way, this also explains why scientists can't agree on anything, including evolution. It's not just Christians and religious folk. Keep that in mind.

Answer 6

I think that basically this is a question that cannot be answer. People practicing a particular denomination they will tell you that theirs.. is the right one.. and they will give you a big list of reasons... and if you want people get in the most heated arguments.. then discuss religion! I opt to be a spiritual human being instead of a religious one and let others decide what is best for their own spiritual growth... in my opinion there are many roads that lead to Rome!

Good luck!

Answer 7

For the same reason we all have different hair, different clothes, different languages, different cultures.

There are many ways of comprehending God.

No Christian should hate another Christian. But they do. It's sad when one denomination has to spread lies in order to knock another denomination down.

Jesus speaks directly against such actions in scripture.

Answer 8

Different denominations, because certain people only want to believe only certain parts of the Bible.

For example, The Bible talks about people getting the holy spirit and how it will guide you and such. And as far as I know, Pentacostals are the only ones who try to get it.

Pentacostal is the correct Christian in my opinion.

Answer 9

There are so many denominations within Christianity because so many people refuse to learn how to read the Bible. If they can not read it-they can not know it-therefore they make poor Christians.

Answer 10

The only requirement is to Love GOD with all of your heart, SOUL and being and to love one another as Christ has loved us, or live the Ten Commandments.

The name of the denomination will not get you into heaven. If you do not live your life as both GOD and Christ has called you to, then the name of the religion/church will not help you!