Why are there so many denominations?
There are lots of religions, lots of denominations within each religion, and lots of different churches within each denomination. To complicate matters further, they can be poles apart with some issues yet often their creeds overlap. And all these churches worship the same God.
Why are there so many different views of the same God?
By Simon Birchwood of Chicago
Why are there so many denominations?
On this page, we are basing the discussion on the Christian faith. But the same thoughts can apply to other religions, too.
Within Christianity there seems a never ending list of different denominations and variations within each denomination, all professing to worship the same God, and one has to wonder what God thinks of all this. Why do we have all these different denominations?
The word 'denomination' is also used in reference to various values of currency. "He paid $1,000 cash, in small denomination bills." The currency is still the same, and the total value is the same. Shopping would be very difficult if we didn't have different denominations.
One day, everyone will pay for things in a standard electronic way or through some other virtual instrument, which will make bills and coins obsolete. That day will come.
One day, everyone will pray for things in a standard way, too, which will make denominations obsolete. That day will come.
Ask any religious leader, and he (it's usually a male1) will say that his church's doctrine was inspired by God. Does that make any sense? Would God give different instructions to different people?
Most probably.
We are all different. We have different cultural and family backgrounds, different environments, different aptitudes, attitudes and interests. Take music, for example. Some of us like symphony and choral music, some of us prefer rock'n'roll, and some people even like rap! And please notice how these analogies are relatively modern. The music of two thousand years ago doesn't appeal to so many people these days. Neither does the language. Not many people converse in ancient Aramaic, Greek and Latin.
The fundamentals of the Christian religion are the same of course - you know, things like loving your neighbour - but the peripheral elements have changed over time. So much so that we have great diversity in the Christian religion today. The same goes for other Abrahamic religions, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.
Diversity is natural, and in itself, harmless. In fact it can be beneficial. If we didn't have diversity in music, for example, if the only music mankind knew was that from a bamboo flute, then nice as that is, fewer people in the world would enjoy and benefit from music. If the only denomination in the world put emphasis on glossolalia (speaking in tongues) and handling poisonous snakes, then a great many people would miss out on the blessings they find in being Latin Rite Catholic or Anglican, Coptic Orthodox, Apostolic Lutheran, Amish, Evangelical Methodist and so on.
This natural diversity has prompted discussion between adherents of different denominations, and this has led to a deeper understanding and conviction of one's own faith and understanding of Scripture. (Some might argue that conflicting religious thought has resulted in arguments which have led to fighting. Invariably though, there have been other issues at stake, such as territorial rights and power struggles.)
What is also natural, yet dangerous and therefore something to be wary of, is when the diversity slides into disunity. This happens when the denomination becomes a self-serving organisation or exists for the sake of promoting its leader. Such denominations might be called 'cults' and become so convoluted and ridiculous ('religulous') that the true religion is no longer visible.
This is something that Jesus gave warning about2, as did Paul3. In spite of the several tints of Christianity, things were relatively stable within the Christian faith until the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. From the four major Protestant divisions (Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, and Anglican) have spawned a multitude of smaller denominations since that time.
Each denomination was founded on a slightly different doctrine from its 'parent', but accorded with the founder's sincere understanding of the Bible and God's will. Denominations have also developed different styles of worship to suit their doctrine. However, one thing which has remained constant (for most denominations) is the basic understanding that Jesus Christ is the way to salvation. It was Jesus Christ who was sacrificed to save mankind. Not Martin Luther, not John Wesley, not the pope, and not a television evangelist4.
Denominations run the grave risk of weakening the church. It is not surprising there are differing interpretations of Scripture, since they were compiled in ancient languages by cultures so different from today. (Indeed, it is miraculous that they make any sense at all today!5) Different thoughts on baptism, sin, creation, etc, are certainly not minor issues and have led to strong points of contention. But these issues are peripheral to what is at the core of Christianity.
The Christian's duty and privilege is to love one another6 with the goal of uniting as one in Christ2. There is one Christian church and all Christians are in that church.
| 1: | See Priestess Phobia |
| 2: | Words from Jesus about disunity: John 17:20-23 |
| 3: | Words from Paul about disunity: Romans 15:5-6 and Philippians 2:2-5 |
| 4: | Words from Paul about television evangelists: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 |
| 5: | |
| 6: | Love one another: 1 John 4:11-14 |
