How has christianity divided into so many denominations,based on the teachings of a single text?

Answer 1

different interpretations

Answer 2

That's a good question. And actually, it's a question not only for Christians, but also for Muslims, Hindus, and others. It's also a question for Constitutional scholars and Shakespeare scholars.

Why? Because the same dynamic is in play for all these different groups of people. Each one of them is working with a particular text or document. Christians work with the Bible. Muslims work with the Koran. Constitutional scholars work with the US Constitution. Shakespeare scholars work with the texts of Shakespeare's many plays and other writings.

But all of them come to a text, read the text, and interpret the text in a particular way. And the interpretive process is not simple, but complex. It is affected by all sorts of things - the reader's background, education, experience, biases, agendas, emotions, etc. Lots of things come into play.

So, for example, two different constitutional scholars can read the same passage of the constitution and come up with different conclusions about what the writers of the constitution were saying. Does that make the constitution invalid? No. Are all readings of the constitution equally valid? No. Some are better readers than others. Some do a better job of reading it in context than others. And that is the source of the differences.

The same is true for Shakespeare scholars. Two different scholars can read the same play and, when asked, will give you two different intepretations of what is going on, what are the main ideas, etc. There may be areas of agreement and overlap. But there will likely be areas of disagreement. Does that make Shakespeare's plays invalid or worthless? No. Do some people read and "get" Shakespeare better than others? Yes. Undoubtedly, if you could bring Shakespeare back to life and ask him to read what these two scholars said about his play, he would say where some of their conclusions were right and some were wrong. He would not be likely to say that they were both right when it came to a matter that they sharply disagreed on. Indeed, he might say there were both wrong and completely missed the point!

The same sort of dynamic is in play with Christians and the Bible. Two Christians can read the same passage and come up with different perspectives on what it is saying. Does this make the Bible invalid or worthless? No. Are all interpreters of the Bible equally skilled? No. And as a result, not all interpretations are equally valid.

What has happened over time is that people who have tended to interpret a passage a particular way have banded together and people who have interpreted it differently have found other common ground and so have come together.

However, while each denomination has its own interpretive cluster of doctrines that is unique to that denomination, there is a great deal of overlap between them and, at the end of the day, the things that separate them are often not that great at all. The Apostles' Creed, for example, is a very old summary of bible truth that people from virtually every Christian denomination agree upon.

Anyway, your question of how people can divide over a single text is a good one. But I hope you can see how the issue is not the text but the interpretation of the text.

If you want to test this out for yourself, find a book of poetry and have 3 people read the same poem and then write on a piece of paper what they all think it is about. You will not likely have three identical answers. Or sit down with someone and watch a movie with some substance to it, such as "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "Shawshank Redemption" or "13 Conversations about One Thing" and see if you all interpret it the same way.

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

Because through the years there have been things that people didn't like about the first true denomination and so they decided to leave it and come up with their own...where do you think Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and Scientologists have come from?? These in my opinion are made-up religions by People...not God. Those religions are just at the very end of the line though, i also thinks it includes baptists, evangelists, lutheran, and all those others too. I even believe that Roman Catholic is a knock off but I don't mean to offend anyone. I am Eastern Orthodox and I have just seen the proof it really is amazing...I believe my church is the original church and now that I have read the records and people have gone through the work to find the first church and the one I belong to comes up....I really do love my religion.

Hope I answered your question, I said enough huh?

Answer 5

Most churches are run without Jesus Christ being the Head of the church. Denominations are a result of churches being run by the decisions of men and not by seeking the direction of the Lord or the leading of the Holy Spirit. Most churches are run as heads and not the body of Christ. Christians are called to the unity of the Spirit and this cannot happen unless Christians are all walking in the Spirit and not tainted by the works of the flesh. All Christians need to be it "not they that live but Christ lives in and through them". Then unity in the Spirit will surely come about. If all churches diligently seek the revelation of the Holy Spirit on God's word there ought not to be inconsistencies in interpretation that cause divisions in the body of Christ..

Answer 6

The many ambiguous statements and inconsistancies in the New Testament leave the door wide open for a myriad of interpretations and hence many different denominations. If you read the history of early Christianity, you will find that there were many different sects who held very divergent beliefs about who Christ actually was from the time of his death.

Answer 7

I don't really know why Christianity has divided into so many denominations because all of us that are Christians have the same purpose that is to go to heaven with our heavenly father.

Answer 8

As luminous said, Different interpretations.
Not only Christians were divided into many sects but other religion which was using single book.

Answer 9

Satan is using divide and conquer. He is putting every distraction in our paths. He tempted Jesus with the kingdoms of the world...he uses persecutions...riches...apathy..anything to turn you away from God.

The Bible is the word of God no matter what the translation.

God gave us the Bible to teach, to reprove, to set things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16

We should find out what God requires of us. What is his will for mankind....His will is that everyone come to an accurate knowledge of the scriptures and bring their lives into harmony with what they learn.

Jesus came to earth to teach and to show us how we should be.
One thing to remember here. ...The good news of the kingdom...The Messianic Kingdom of Jesus....will be preached for a witness to the nations...and then the end will come.

Are you living your life in full confidence that you will survive the coming tribulation and Armageddon?

The time to change is today.
Have a bible study and learn before it is too late. Time is short so don't delay.
Only you can save you by taking in knowledge with the help of someone who understands what they are teaching.
Romans8:31 Romans 10:14

Answer 10

Because whether the book is divine or not, people run the church not God.

Besides, the new testament has 4 Gospels, selected from a list of 30 (including ones attributed to Jesus and Judas).

Answer 11

That single text is 66 books, some denominations stress certain books more than others.

Also some denominations take the Bible literally and others say it is a book of good stories not to be taken literally at all.

Some gather around a particular version. I have often heard people say if the King James Version was good enough for Christ it is good enough for me. Duh, The KJV did not exist at the time of Christ.

grace2u