Why is Christianity so divided into different sections and denominations?

Question

What I mean is why is it split up the way that it is between Catholicism and Protestantism? Then there's Liberal Christianity, Fundamental/Conservative Christianity and Evangelical Christianity? Isn't it all the same thing? Don't they all believe in Jesus Christ as lord and savior? Aren't we all brothers and sisters in Christ? What led to all of the division of Christianity? And how do you think Jesus Christ and God feel about all of this?

Answer 1

Yes, we absolutely are all brothers and sisters in Christ. The reason for the divisions is because a lot of people want to have their own opinions on different doctrinal matters. Premillenial or postmillenial, whether healing power can still exist today, speaking in tongues, ect. The silly thing is that, although the english translation often leaves much to be desired and will at times allow for different views on matters-the original languages that the bible was written in-greek & Hebrew-are not. They use words that would give us definite answers on subjects. For instance, we have one word "love". We "love" our car, we "love" our children. Yet obviously we don't have the same kind of love for both, but still it is that one word that is used in both cases. The greek language has 3 words for 3 different types of love. This allows one to be much more exact on how she feels about her car and her children. How does Christ feel? Considering His sacrifice for us, I think he probably thinks its a shame that we can't take a little extra time to figure out the truth.....and I say this as one who is far from perfect on the matter. But most of us are either too lazy or just stuck on certain opinions that "fit in" with how we "want" to view the world, life, and God.

Answer 2

Because there are liberal and conservative people, and those things depend on the age we are in. For instance the Anglicans were liberal compared to the Catholic Church, but the Puritans were liberal compared to the Anglicans, and the Puritans were conservative compared to the Quakers.

A lot of the divisions are political, particularly in the structure of the church. The Catholic has rigid lines of bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, etc. The Anglican is somewhat less, with bishops and archbishops. The Presbyterians are even less, with a pastor, elders, and a congregation. The Congregationalists are even less, with a congregation and pastor.

Also churches emphasize different things. The Catholics emphasize communion, the Baptists Baptism perhaps (although that is not entirely true), the Pentecostals speaking in tongues, the Calvinists God's grace, and the Methodists doing good works.

Answer 3

I think you can learn two things from this. First, politics and religion are tied very tightly together. Most new sects of Christianity sprung up in the quest for power and wealth. The church of England is a great example. Where the soul goes, the wallet will follow.

Second, Christianity is easily adapted to local cultures. The bible is so vague that a culture can read almost anything it wants into it, the bad (slavery, the crusades, genocide, homosexual hatred,etc) and the good (don't steal from people or murder them (except when condoned by section one of paragraph two)). It's not really tied to any particular homeland, or object of worship. It's got enough historical basis to be believable. It's just a spiffy religion.

So no, we're (well, you) aren't brothers and sisters. You're just ordinary people with the same squabbles as anyone else - atheist or other god worshiper - over food, land, wealth, and security. Your particular brand of Christianity is just one more thing to squabble over. Like any religion, it's a unifying force in a local community, but a point of division with other cultural groups. It's just your run of the mill feature of our tribal nature.

Answer 4

Well the Catholic Bible has more Books than other Bibles known by others as apocryphal texts. There are hundreds if not thousands of translations over the centuries most common are New International Version, King James/New King James, New Living Translation,English Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version... Goes on and on never seen a complete list Also some denominations cut out certain books usually Revelation. But the vast majority use the 66 book version. And except for King James, New Living and other bad/out of date translations they are usually similar

Answer 5

Because it does matter what one believes. Some differences between denominations are small and inconsequential, others are huge and can mean the difference between being an actual follower of Christ or a "cult" with no real connection to God at all. Read the Word of God for answers. Anyone that says not to read the Bible because it will lead you off of the "true" path, and to only read their explanations of what the Bible says are false prophets.

Answer 6

Look at it this way: Satan is the great deceiver, and as such he wants to turn people away from God. Military strategists have known for a long time, the way to conquer a large enemy, is to split them up, divide them into smaller groups. Several smaller groups are much easier to wage war against than one large group is. When a large army thinks and works together as one, they are much stronger than a large army whose ranks are divided.Satan knows that if he can divide Gods followers, he can more easily defeat them and eventually cause them to fight among themselves. This is very evident in the world today. We are all Gods children, but we are not all brothers and sisters in Christ.
God Bless You....Peace.

Answer 7

I haven't read through the rest of the answers, so sorry if this has already been said.
There is no way to prove the claims of religion as relates to anything of a metaphysical nature. That opens the door to total disagreement as to anything of that nature. The disagreement will often be based on the needs and desires of the people in question.
To use the example you use, Christianity is a religion based ostensibly on "historical" events. The one consensus among the different Christian denominations is that those events should have one significance for everyone and be responded to in one particular way. However, the significance of the events and the proper response is subject to interpretation, as there is no way to prove what their meaning or the proper response to them is. This will be used to advantage by people who want to control other groups of people. And it will be used to advantage by people who don't agree with other people's opinions.
Hence, all the different denominations.
In a nutshell, as far as Christianity is concerned: As long as the goal of Christianity is gaining entrance to a heaven that is "out there" somewhere and that's controlled by a god who's also "out there" somewhere, there will be denominations upon denominations because anyone's opinion about any of that is as valid as anyone else's- there's no proof for any of it. If the goal should become the achievement of something like a "state of grace" in this life, perhaps that would change:
Luke 17: 20-21
"And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you."
As far as what Jesus and God feel. I believe that Jesus was human, hence feels nothing now- but that he had achieved in his lifetime a certain state of consciousness concerning his interior self and its relationship to society and the world that was impossible for him to express verbally other than by metaphor and symbol. I do not believe in God as an entity existing apart from anyone's idea of God.

Answer 8

sin is a cause of division. Satan is the author of disunity, chaos, which is a haven in Protestant Fiaths. On the other hand, The Holy Roman Catholic Church's FAITH has been guarded and protected by the Holy Spirit for the last 2000 years. I think that God the Father is not pleased that Christianity is so heavily divided.

Answer 9

Mostly over disagreements over the minutia of doctrinal details. Some, like Catholicism, have added many extra traditions which are Biblically inaccurate and unnecessary. So, when someone had a revelation concerning scripture, if their revelation was not accepted, they had to split and stand for what they knew was right.

It is a shame we can't just focus on Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.

Answer 10

some are because they want to do what they want so they made a church that says it is ok to do whatever you want.

most do believe in God. from there is were most differ. because some say Jesus is the son of God and makes up a third of the Godhead. were others like myself believe Jesus is God.

some will baptize in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost others like myself baptize in Jesus name. some believe that the gifts of the Holy Ghost are not poured out anymore while others like myself believe they are still poured out today. some sit back and just listen and others like myself will worship God and are not afraid to sing and lift up our hands and run around or whatever.