What is the difference all the Christian churches?

Question

I mean why are there so many branches, and how do they all differ. Please give simple differences as a list.

I AM NOT CHRISTIAN, THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING THIS QUESTION, AND THIS INVOLVES MY HOMEWORK, SO DON'T MAKE STUPID PREDICTIONS ABOUT ME.

Answer 1

...first you need to understand that all "religions" are "man made"... they all attempt to reach up to God... God was smart enough to know that "we" could not ever do that so He "cut-thru" all the "religious" gymnastics, smoke, special trinkets and chants and icons and candles and robes and dogmas and all the "blah, blah, honk-honk" of "religion"... God came to us and explained to us that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life... Worship God thru His Scriptural Word and not the words of the misguided "religions" that attempt to have you find Salvation by all the gymnastics and dogmas that "they" are trying to hold you captive by...

Answer 2

Christianity has numerous denominations.

In the days of the early church, round about 30-140 AD, there was no centralized church, so different groups of Christians began practicing their faith slightly differently.

The two biggest splits, however, are the East/West or "Great" Schism, and the Protestant Reformation.

In 1054, the Eastern Orthodox Church split with the Roman Catholic Church (the West) for theological and geographical reasons. The theological reason was the dispute over the filioque clause into the Nicene Creed. The Eastern Orthodox church objected to the phrase "We believe in the Holy Spirit ... who proceeds from the Father" being amended to read "We believe in the Holy Spirit ... who proceeds from the Father and the Son."

Later, the Protestant Reformation splintered Protestant Churches off from the Roman Catholic Church. This was triggered by Martin Luther nailing his "Ninety-Five Theses On the Power of Indulgences" to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. This was followed by numerous splits among the Protestant Churches.

Additionally, Christianity, like Islam and Buddhism, is a proselytizing religion, meaning that it's followers try to convert others to their faith. As a result, Christianity keeps getting modified by its new converts.

Answer 3

There generally aren't that many differences. Some take the Bible at it's LITERAL word, and some take it as a "guide". Some believe in full immersion for baptism, and some just sprinkle water on your head. Some come in full "Sunday Dress" and sit through rigorous ritual, while some come in whatever they are wearing and just socialize.

These are just a few examples. Basically, if a few members of a church don't agree with how the church is being run, they split off and make a new church. But the general message is usually the same. The link I have provided lists several, and if you click on them there is a short run-down of what they are about.

Happy exploring!

Answer 4

The Catholic Church was born out of the Roman Empire and was established as official religion of the Empire by Emperor Constantine in 313.
The Orthodox Church disputes the Catholic Church's claim to be the original Church and claims to be the true one. It arises out of the first Greek converts from St. Paul when he visited the Eastern parts of the Roman empire.
The Coptic Church is the one most Middle-Eastern Christians adhere to. It was founded by crusaders and developed along different theological lines as the descendants and converts of the crusaders became more isolated from the Catholic Church.
Protestantism, which includes a vast array of different groups is based on Luther's protest against the Catholic Church for a number of practices he opposed. Although Luther meant to reform the Church, he eventually ended up breaking away from it. Different groups today, such as Jehovah's witnesses, Methodists, Presbyterians, etc... are all protestants. These Churches tend to be more democratic, hence the birth of many divisions.
Finally, the Mormons are a group apart, who believe further biblical revelations were given to followers of Christ that later came to America and were later found and translated by the Church's founder, Joseph Smith.
Anglicanism is also a form of Protestantism, but it has a particular history: Henry VIII opposed the Pope's decision not to divorce and remarried and decided England would have her own national Church and disobeyed the Pope.

Answer 5

"What separates us as believers in Christ is much less than what unites us." (Pope John XXIII)

Almost all important doctrine is completely agreed upon between Catholic Christians and other Christians.

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

There are many minor doctrine issues and some major cultural traditional differences which, I believe, do not matter that much.

A Catholic worships and follows Christ in the tradition of Catholicism which, among other things, recognizes that Christ made Peter the leader of His new Church and Pope Benedict XVI is Peter's direct successor.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

It all stems from what is known as 'schisms'. Suppose you and some friends start up a religious group and give yourselves a name for this group, later you start having differences of opinion about your beliefs, and some members decide to leave the group and form their own group that supports their opinions, under a different name. Later they start squabbling and the same thing happens again, and again. This splitting up is schism.

Answer 7

Hard to answer, as they all continually refine their positions.
Take the Roman Catholic Church, which only recently announced that limbo of infants does not exist.

But why do you ask? Are you shopping for a religion? Then take the test (see second link, the belief-o-matic).

If not, just bear in mind the one major truth of any religion:
- WE are right, everyone else is wrong
- you will be SAVED if you follow us, all the other will be damned

(I am a secular humanist; I found how what I am was called using the belief-o-matic, actually)

Answer 8

Mr Favor,
Satan has done his job to split CHRIST'S CHURCH as was foretold in the scriptures. There are many denominations that attempt to pull men/women away from HIM.
Some of the "major" examples are:

* Catholic - Many creeds of men rather than following the Bible as it was written. A pope who is elected and rewrites their creeds as he chooses. They are a Denominational church. Some use Latin during services and some do not. They believe that the Lord's Supper items become the literal body and blood of Christ during it's partaking. They are very rigid in their services.

*Methodist - fly.hiwaay.net/~fumchsv/beliefs.htm
www.umc.org

*Baptist - www.baptiststart.com/doctrine.htm
www.baptiststart.com/doctrine.htm
Generally, they believe that one may pray and be accepted as a Christian. They believe that "Once Saved a person is Always Saved" and is not in danger of losing their grace.

*Pentecostal - They believe that GOD's gift of speaking in Tongues remains with us today. Some of the churches have members who will move around during services also.
www.jimfeeney.org/pentecostalreligionbeliefs.html
gktq.com/9/pentecostal-beliefs.html

*Churches of Christ - Denominational and Non-Denominational Churches exist. Some use Mechanical Instruments and some DO NOT. Biblical Authority for everything. The examples of baptism show that baptism by immersion is necessary to become a Christian.
www.churchofchrist-tl.org/beliefs.html
www.northsidechurchofchrist.net/C1.htm

These are the major churches only. Have a wonderful day.
Thanks,
Eds


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Answer 9

You obviously know so little about Christian churches that you just need to go and study about them. The differences have been studied as scholars' life vocations. A simple list here would teach you little, but probably add to your ignorance.

That fact is that every one is different; some in major ways, some in very minor ways.

Answer 10

they are fighting over God, and then tear God apart to have each a piece of him in their church, then they all claim they have the right God, and the church that are more convincing makes the most money and the priest ,or pastor with the best and most expensive car is supposed to be the right one