Why are their so many different kinds Christianity?

Question

Meaning:
Roman Catholic
Orthodox
Lutheran
Baptist
Anglican
Pentocostal

I know thers more but why so many?

It seems like as the years pass there is more and more division.

Answer 1

There never was just one Christianity. Out of the milieu of religiosity that infected the Roman world, dozens of competing and conflicting Jesus/Sun-god/Mystery cults emerged. The first believers in Jesus maintained he was an ethereal spirit, much like other sky/sun-gods. Only later did he acquire a human death, a human life and finally a human birth. The composite 'Jesus Christ' character – god, man, king, carpenter, conqueror, peace-maker, dispenser of justice, advocate of love – was assembled to try and unify a fragmented and fractious messianic religious movement. In the mid-2nd century the Jewishness of the faith was purged but apologists had little to say about a human Jesus. They took comfort in noting similarities between their own ideas and pagan myths. The Christians remained a minority until well after one particular faction formed a political alliance with the Roman State. The orthodox creed remained unpopular for centuries and persecution was necessary to impose its will.

Answer 2

Ater the Apostles died an apostasy set into the Christian congregation, in fact while the Apostles were still alive it was mentioned as already beginning. The apostasy grew worse and later divisions arose, something the Apostles said to guard against since there was only one truth. The Bible Scriptures teach that this apostasy would last until the end days when the truth would be re-established. So any churches starting with the death of the Apostles until the start of the end times would be apostate then God would start up a true congregation that would obey his word and live by it.

Answer 3

It's interesting that you say that. Because, as a Christian myself, I see more unification in most of the religions. Few are divisive, although they get the media attention and seem like the majority.

The reason why there are so many viewpoints is because there are so many people. We're all searching for answers and not every answer is going to fit every individual. But we can still see God working through the various communities, which is what we need to focus on (but don't always).

Matt

Answer 4

There are many different Christian religions. People had different beliefs and different religious experiences.

First there were only Catholics. Then the Orthodox Church came out...then there was a Protestant Revolution with many religions coming out... then some more followed...then more..then more... Basically a lot of people had different beliefs and many of those people had religious experiences [which is why we have Mormonism and Kimbanguism and a bunch of other Christian religions]

It also depends on which region you live in because you get religions like Greek Orthodox, Egyptian Orthodox, etc.

EDIT: Oh I forgot. We had a class discussion on this once. Someone said that it would get to the point where most people would not be in any organized Christian religion anymore. She said it was estimated that this would happen in 150yrs or so.

Answer 5

Before the Catholic Religion got its start, Christianity was a "Full Gospel" religion. It was based on both the old and new testaments. Then Catholicism became dominant and Christianity was a New Testament religion.. When Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church, Protestant religions got their start and went back to "Full Gospel". and now there are so many variations of Christianity based on Jesus Christ. who believed in the Old Testament because the New one wasn't written yet. Do you see what can develop from a situation like this?

Answer 6

Most likely for a variety of reasons, but the denomination may fall into a number of loose categories;
Those that broke from Catholicism for doctrinal disputes
Those that developed for regional and cultural reasons
Those that broke with Protestant sects for doctrinal disputes.
Those that claim to be Christian but are so outside any resemblance to the most basic tennants of the doctrine.
(Westboro Baptist Church for example, or the street corner here today gone tomorrow churches)

My categorical breakdown is certainly up for critique, but it may be a helpful illustration.

Answer 7

The apostasy was foretold in the scriptures.

The time would come when Christianity would be indoctrinated with falsehood - and lies would replace truth. That is what we are seeing today.


Additionally - it WILL continue to get worse and worse as the "last days" progress on to the end. It will not get better until God steps in and His Kingdom rules.

Answer 8

Like the old saying goes
Too many Chiefs not enough Indians
Every body wants to be the Right One
all they do is cancel each other out.

Answer 9

Denominations have always struck me as being silly and hurtful. They create division among the very people who should be most united.

Answer 10

It's like trying on different pairs of shoes. You have to find a style you like and one that fits.
All churches don't appeal to everybody. For example, I dont like a preacher who yells, or a congregation that runs up and down the aisles. But that's ok, and everybody should respect each others choice of where they go.