A Closer Look at Christianity by Barbara A. Brown

DENOMINATIONS OF CHRISTIANITY

Christianity has grown into a major force in the world of today. Despite the fact, however, that they lay claim to the largest number of adherents in the world, Christianity is in itself a mass of various denominations, each differing from the other in some manner.

While Islam does have the two divisions of Sunni and Shia, this divisions is political-- not religious. In Christianity, however, the divisions come along religious lines. While all share belief in God---and let's not forget Jesus--things differ from there.

Although the exact number is not known, I am aware of close to fifty different denominations within Christianity, ranging from the Amish, who have chosen to withdraw from the world, setting aside modern conveniences such as electricity and automobiles, to the Unitarians who most Christians don't even consider Christians because they do not believe in either the concept of Jesus being the son of God or the trinity.

The Roman Catholics, the biggest denomination of Christianity in the world today, venerate saints and the mother of Jesus; the "host" during their communion service is said to become the actual body of Christ, the wine his actual blood, when blessed by the priest.

Unwilling to content with a vow of celibacy, the Orthodox Church split from Rome during the Middle Ages, and now reigns supreme in the East. They maintain the ornateness of Catholicism, but have taken different Holy days for themselves, and swear allegiance to a different "Holy Father" than do the Roman Catholics.

In 1517, the Protestant Christians came into being, which was, in effect, a revolt certain practices within the Catholic Church. For instance:
1) The Catholics go for ornate and elaborate churches and church services; the Protestants kept it nice and simple.

2) The Catholic scriptures contain a number of books from the Apocrypha; the Protestants steer clear of every one of these "hidden books".

3) The Cathloics have statues in their churches, statues in their homes, statues in their cars, bury statues in their front lawns when they put their homes up for sale, and have the figure of a crucified Jesus adorning their crosses. The Protestants scream "idol worship" to this and many don't even have a plain cross as adornment inside their churches.

Within the Protestant branch of Christianity has developed a tremendous variety of denominations and associated beliefs.

The Lutherans follow the teachings of Martin Luther; the folks in the Reformed churches didn't think he was strict enough, however, so they follow the teachings of John Calvin.

The Baptists, who believe that adults--not children--should be baptized, were mercilessly persecuted by both Catholics and Protestants during the Middle Ages, but have now grown to a substantial denomination within Christianity.

The Catholics never took kindly to the Protestant movement, and it was a quest for religious freedom that drove Europeans out of their homelands and over to the New world. When the Puritans settled in America during the seventeenth century, a whole new group of denominations came into being in the New World in the years to come.

The Shakers believed in strict celibacy; it is no wonder that they no longer exist.

The Pentecostals claim to "speak in tongues"—their church services are said to be quite interesting. They also believe the Bible to be infallible--that is, totally without error. From their ranks we have come to know some "memorable" persons such as Jimmy Swaggert, along with Jim and Tammy Fay Bakker.

The Jehovah's Witnesses spend most of their time pouring over the Book of Revelations, dreaming of the day when everyone and everything on earth will be annihilated except for them.

The Mormons had their own prophet, one Joseph Smith, who brought them a book of scriptures they hold to be just as sacred as the Bible. Their policy of "celestial marriage"--a.k.a. polygamy--almost ended up keeping Utah from becoming a state in this country.

The Christian Scientists also have their own book of scripture besides the Bible; Mary Baker Eddy,
their prophetess, told her followers that faith and science conquers all--even the sexual desire.

So many different denominations with so many different practices, but all united in one cause: their faith of Christianity is "the only true faith". This fanatic allegiance to theology has been the cause of many incidents of untold violence against those of other faiths, such as the Crusades, the Inquisition, and even the Nazi Holocaust. Intolerance is a frightful thing when born from and fueled by unreasonable theology.

As for the Muslim, God tells us:
"And hold fast all together, by the Rope which Allah stretches out for you, and be not divided among yourselves..."(3:103)

We must-- "...persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper"' (3:200) --because "Whoever submits his whole self to Allah, and is the doer of good, has grasped indeed the most trustworthy hand-hold: and with Allah rests the End and the Decision of all affairs" (31:22)