Why are there 33,839 different Christian denominations?

[Zzyzx]

If Christianity is based upon the Bible, and if the Bible is “the infallible word of god” (or even the fallible word of god) why are 33,830 different Christian denominations recognized by the World Christian Encyclopedia?

Supposedly these denominations are all worshiping the same god from the same (or similar) ancient text. How can one god be “infallibly correct” in 33,830 different ways?

If there are at least 33,000 different “interpretations” of “god’s word”, it seems as though any interpretation can be just as valid as any other and words can be “redefined” to mean exactly the opposite of their common meaning.

[spiritletter]

There are so many sects because there are so many theological points of argument. I have two suggestions here.

1. Get rid of churches altogether and try to live by Christ's teachings. Don't hurt people, help the poor, don't beat women, don't judge, don't let money be the only thing in your life, etc.

2. Stop arguing theology. Theology developed long after Christ and immediately became a snakepit of warring sects.

3. Pray, meditate, real and love your neighbor.

4. Undertake community projects like feeding and housing the homeless, not because your denomination does it better than the other guys, but because it needs to be done.

5. Stop adhering to dogma that doesn't have anything to do with our lives, or which recommends horrendous acts (stoning women, killing witches, whatever).

6. Respect all religions equally. They are more alike than they are different. There is no reason a Buddhist cannot understand a Christian and a Muslim cannot understand a Taoist. The sometimes lethal bickering among these religions has nothing to do with what God wants and everything to do with the egos of the leaders of the particular sects, or the psychoses of various fundamentalists.

Two? Looks like six.
Here are two.
1) Repent
2) Accept what Jesus has done for you, and give your whole life to Him.

Biker

I thought there would be 2, then I knew there would be more.

You don't have a clue who I am and yet you are telling me to repent.

You have not answered any of the points I listed.

If you are a fundamentalist do not bother to reply.

[Biker]

There are so many sects because there are so many theological points of argument. I have two suggestions here.

1. Get rid of churches altogether and try to live by Christ's teachings. Don't hurt people, help the poor, don't beat women, don't judge, don't let money be the only thing in your life, etc.

2. Stop arguing theology. Theology developed long after Christ and immediately became a snakepit of warring sects.

3. Pray, meditate, real and love your neighbor.

4. Undertake community projects like feeding and housing the homeless, not because your denomination does it better than the other guys, but because it needs to be done.

5. Stop adhering to dogma that doesn't have anything to do with our lives, or which recommends horrendous acts (stoning women, killing witches, whatever).

6. Respect all religions equally. They are more alike than they are different. There is no reason a Buddhist cannot understand a Christian and a Muslim cannot understand a Taoist. The sometimes lethal bickering among these religions has nothing to do with what God wants and everything to do with the egos of the leaders of the particular sects, or the psychoses of various fundamentalists.

Two? Looks like six.
Here are two.
1) Repent
2) Accept what Jesus has done for you, and give your whole life to Him.

Biker

I thought there would be 2, then I knew there would be more.

You don't have a clue who I am and yet you are telling me to repent.

You have not answered any of the points I listed.

If you are a fundamentalist do not bother to reply.

Fundamentalist, naaaa, don't even know any?
Be careful with the atheists though!
There's a bunch of fundamentalist atheists on this board!

Biker

[spiritletter]

There are so many sects because there are so many theological points of argument. I have two suggestions here.

1. Get rid of churches altogether and try to live by Christ's teachings. Don't hurt people, help the poor, don't beat women, don't judge, don't let money be the only thing in your life, etc.

2. Stop arguing theology. Theology developed long after Christ and immediately became a snakepit of warring sects.

3. Pray, meditate, real and love your neighbor.

4. Undertake community projects like feeding and housing the homeless, not because your denomination does it better than the other guys, but because it needs to be done.

5. Stop adhering to dogma that doesn't have anything to do with our lives, or which recommends horrendous acts (stoning women, killing witches, whatever).

6. Respect all religions equally. They are more alike than they are different. There is no reason a Buddhist cannot understand a Christian and a Muslim cannot understand a Taoist. The sometimes lethal bickering among these religions has nothing to do with what God wants and everything to do with the egos of the leaders of the particular sects, or the psychoses of various fundamentalists.

Two? Looks like six.
Here are two.
1) Repent
2) Accept what Jesus has done for you, and give your whole life to Him.

Biker

I thought there would be 2, then I knew there would be more.

You don't have a clue who I am and yet you are telling me to repent.

You have not answered any of the points I listed.

If you are a fundamentalist do not bother to reply.

Fundamentalist, naaaa, don't even know any?
Be careful with the atheists though!
There's a bunch of fundamentalist atheists on this board!

Biker

You are still not responding to my points.

[bernee51]

There are so many sects because there are so many theological points of argument. I have two suggestions here.

1. Get rid of churches altogether and try to live by Christ's teachings. Don't hurt people, help the poor, don't beat women, don't judge, don't let money be the only thing in your life, etc.

2. Stop arguing theology. Theology developed long after Christ and immediately became a snakepit of warring sects.

3. Pray, meditate, real and love your neighbor.

4. Undertake community projects like feeding and housing the homeless, not because your denomination does it better than the other guys, but because it needs to be done.

5. Stop adhering to dogma that doesn't have anything to do with our lives, or which recommends horrendous acts (stoning women, killing witches, whatever).

6. Respect all religions equally. They are more alike than they are different. There is no reason a Buddhist cannot understand a Christian and a Muslim cannot understand a Taoist. The sometimes lethal bickering among these religions has nothing to do with what God wants and everything to do with the egos of the leaders of the particular sects, or the psychoses of various fundamentalists.

Two? Looks like six.
Here are two.
1) Repent
2) Accept what Jesus has done for you, and give your whole life to Him.

Biker

I thought there would be 2, then I knew there would be more.

You don't have a clue who I am and yet you are telling me to repent.

You have not answered any of the points I listed.

If you are a fundamentalist do not bother to reply.

Fundamentalist, naaaa, don't even know any?
Be careful with the atheists though!
There's a bunch of fundamentalist atheists on this board!

Biker

You are still not responding to my points.

Don't take it personally...he treats everyone as equals.

[adlemi]

There are so many sects because there are so many theological points of argument. I have two suggestions here.

1. Get rid of churches altogether and try to live by Christ's teachings. Don't hurt people, help the poor, don't beat women, don't judge, don't let money be the only thing in your life, etc.

2. Stop arguing theology. Theology developed long after Christ and immediately became a snakepit of warring sects.

3. Pray, meditate, real and love your neighbor.

4. Undertake community projects like feeding and housing the homeless, not because your denomination does it better than the other guys, but because it needs to be done.

5. Stop adhering to dogma that doesn't have anything to do with our lives, or which recommends horrendous acts (stoning women, killing witches, whatever).

6. Respect all religions equally. They are more alike than they are different. There is no reason a Buddhist cannot understand a Christian and a Muslim cannot understand a Taoist. The sometimes lethal bickering among these religions has nothing to do with what God wants and everything to do with the egos of the leaders of the particular sects, or the psychoses of various fundamentalists.

Nice points but for us to do these things, let us not ignore the presence of God, submit ourselves to the custody of God and let Him be our Leader, Good Pastor and Teacher in our life as in the days of the apostles. Let us all come to God.

[Hugh]

Title of this subforum ... "Why are there 33,839 different Christian denominations" ... ... simple answer ... because another 33,839 individuals longed to be wealthy.

[twobitsmedia]

Title of this subforum ... "Why are there 33,839 different Christian denominations" ... ... simple answer ... because another 33,839 individuals longed to be wealthy.

If it's that easy, then I am going to start my own denomination. Maybe something like
Amway for Jesus!"

[McCulloch]

Title of this subforum ... "Why are there 33,839 different Christian denominations" ... ... simple answer ... because another 33,839 individuals longed to be wealthy.

I doubt that the answer is quite that simple. Life, religion and human interactions are seldom that simple. Many of the different Christian denominations have sprung up, ironically, as attempts to unify Christianity.

[k-nug]

There's a million reasons why, but I think that the fact so many different versions of Christianity exists is evidence that the Bible is not clear, concise and contradictory-free, which is further evidence that the Bible was not guided by an omnipotent, omniscient being.

[DerangedProtagonist]

There's a million reasons why, but I think that the fact so many different versions of Christianity exists is evidence that the Bible is not clear, concise and contradictory-free, which is further evidence that the Bible was not guided by an omnipotent, omniscient being.

If Christianity is about a relationship with God, then the purpose of the Bible is to lead us to God and connect with Him. If it was God's intention that the Bible would lead us to such a relationship, then just because it contains contradictions, does not mean it has not been been guided by an omniscient being. As long as it fulfils its purpose, the contradictions mean nothing.

I am sure many Christians do have "an experience of God" as probably happens among Jews, Muslims and others. If that is so, then the Bible, doesn't need to be perfect. Even the "many different versions" of Christianity don't nullify Christianity's purpose.

People won't necessary flock to God just because they've read a Book that contains a message that's supposed to lead them closer to Himself. It's a bit like an archery match. There's going to be hits and misses. Those who really seek God will find Him, those more interested in ideology and logic will not, and are more likely to start a new creed or think that by aligning themselves to a creed, ideology or organisation are on the path of truth. That said, it is not logic or ideology that leads us to God, but the heart. If you explore other faiths, I reckon you will probably discover the same thing.

The message is an expression of others' experience of God, particularly those early Christians. Ultimately, it's the heart, not the logic in the words of the message, that leads us to God. The words are just an expression, and will mean nothing until we embrace their true meaning.

If Christianity hasn't been fulfilling, you may indeed explore other faiths. With regards to a God that exists (assuming He does), I reckon the words above will still apply.

There are so many sects because there are so many theological points of argument. I have two suggestions here.

1. Get rid of churches altogether and try to live by Christ's teachings. Don't hurt people, help the poor, don't beat women, don't judge, don't let money be the only thing in your life, etc.

2. Stop arguing theology. Theology developed long after Christ and immediately became a snakepit of warring sects.

3. Pray, meditate, real and love your neighbor.

4. Undertake community projects like feeding and housing the homeless, not because your denomination does it better than the other guys, but because it needs to be done.

5. Stop adhering to dogma that doesn't have anything to do with our lives, or which recommends horrendous acts (stoning women, killing witches, whatever).

No problems with above.

6. Respect all religions equally. They are more alike than they are different. There is no reason a Buddhist cannot understand a Christian and a Muslim cannot understand a Taoist. The sometimes lethal bickering among these religions has nothing to do with what God wants and everything to do with the egos of the leaders of the particular sects, or the psychoses of various fundamentalists.

We shall do what we can!!!

comment: Yes you did say you were going to give two suggestions but you gave us six.

Two? Looks like six.
Here are two.
1) Repent
2) Accept what Jesus has done for you, and give your whole life to Him.

Biker

Give to Caesar, the things that are Caesar's, God the things that are God's and Christ the things that belong to Christ. And pay the tax-man.

With regards for what Jesus has done, one must understand that a Christian has a sense of belonging that may not be felt by others. We are not to impose on others that which does not belong to them, as that may be insulting!!! Say you're a boy and I give you a barbie doll for your birthday present.

In that sense either there are no true christians or everyone is a true christian.

No true christians: possible
All are true christians: possible, but what would be the point of that? Then everybody would be in the same boat

If Christianity is about a spiritual journey, no doubt there will be "true" and "untrue" Chrisitans, depending on how strongly they align themselves to the goal, but I suppose it's a waste of time to judge people on whether they are true if we don't know all about them.

Why is it taking you so long to figure out I don't have a label?

Have you managed to work out why theism is the only non self defeating worldview? Many are waiting for your wisdom with bated breath.

I'd like to know what you mean by "theism."