Do other religions have "denominations"?

Question

The Christian community has alot but what of Islam, Hindu, Buddah etc?

Very interesting thanks to the majority of you.

But before the catholic church didn't Emperor Constantine combine christianity with some Pagan rituals? BTW I got all the Christian denominations but thanks for making my brain tick.

Answer 1

Yes, more or less. Hinduism has various (non-exclusive) cults--i.e. groups of people and temples organized for the worship of some particular god (the most popular being Vishnu and Shiva). There are also guru-led "panths" such as the Vedanta Society, Sant Mat, Ananda Marga, and so on.

Buddhism has several national traditions with different customs, lineages, and in some cases, collections of sacred texts. Most lists would include Theravada Buddhism, and Mahayana Buddhism is decentralized and diverse enough to be subdivided into as much detail as you want. To give you an idea, the Dalai Lama is a Gelugpa monk (from the Gelug monastic lineage of Tibetan Buddhism) who accepts Prasangika Madhyamika philosophy (a school of Indian Buddhism) as ultimate truth.

For Islam, most people would name Sunni and Shi'a as the two major branches. Shi'ism can be divided into 12-er (Ithna Ashariya) Shi'ism, Isma'ili Shi'ism, ghulat groups, and so on. There are also various Sufi orders (tariqas), schools of legal interpretation (fiqh), and networks of mosques and their leaders and supporters. Which of these is most like a "denomination" I dunno.

Taoism is state-controlled in China, and freely organized (and decentralized) in Taiwan. The main branches are the Tien Shi ("Celestial Masters") sect, also known as the Zheng Yi ("Righteous One") sect; and the Chuan Zhen ("Complete Perfection") sect. Others have existed before, but been absorbed by these, or disappeared.

Judaism has Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and Reconstructionist versions, as well as several "ultra-Orthodox" Hassidic groups.

Answer 2

The Reformation was a movement in the 16th century to reform the Catholic Church in Western Europe. Soon, the reformers split from the Church altogether, founding four major church traditions and dozens of sub-denominations, all of which are considered adherents of "Protestantism".

There was only one Christian Church before the 16th century, the Catholic Church which goes back to the time of Christ and the Apostle Peter who is considered the first Pope of the Catholic Church

Answer 3

Certainly. Look at the two major sects in Islam trying to exterminate each other in Iraq.
Hindu is hundreds of different sects, you could almost call it an association of religions.
Buddhism is split into another whole series of different schools.
These two links just scratch at the surface of it all.

Answer 4

Buddhism: Cha'an (Zen), Pureland, Tibetan, etc.
Hinduism: Shaivaism, Shaktism, Smartism, etc.
Islam: Shia, Sunni, Sufi, etc.

I think with anything as personal as religion, differences in interpretation and personal experience are bound to create different denominations as the religions mature.

Answer 5

Do you watch the news? Iraq is all about "denominations" of Islam.

I don't know about Hinduism and Buddhism. I know that practically every single person who practices Wicca has a different understanding of what it is.

Answer 6

Absolutely. All beliefs systems splinter over time. Even democracy! It is the natural order of mankind to disagree.

Answer 7

My friend Ali asked me "What sect are you?" Anyway he explained the Sheia & the Sunna. so I took that at face value denoninations seems to be with "western" churches.

Answer 8

Islam has some denominations for exsample :
shia,shafeie,maleki and the others

Answer 9

J.W's do not. All are brothers and sisters and all preach door to door. From the governing body right down to the newest baptised one.
Even unbaptised ones can preach under supervision. and have studied for it.

Answer 10

wiccia/ paganisim has many "denominations" theres gardinarian, dianatic, odinist, druidic ect ect