List of Christian denominations

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A Christian denomination is a distinct religious body within Christianity, identified by traits such as a name, organization and doctrine. Individual bodies, however, may use alternative terms to describe themselves, such as church, convention, communion, assembly, house, union, network, or sometimes fellowship. Divisions between one denomination and another are primarily defined by authority and doctrine. Issues regarding the nature of Jesus, Trinitarianism, salvation, the authority of apostolic succession, eschatology, conciliarity, papal supremacy and papal primacy among others may separate one denomination from another. Groups of denominations, often sharing broadly similar beliefs, practices, and historical ties—can be known as "branches of Christianity" or "denominational families" (e.g. Eastern or Western Christianity and their sub-branches).[1] These "denominational families" are often imprecisely also called denominations.

Christian denominations since the 20th century have often involved themselves in ecumenism. Ecumenism refers to efforts among Christian bodies to develop better understandings and closer relationships.[2][3] It also refers to efforts toward visible unity in the Christian Church, though the terms of visible unity vary for each denomination of Christianity; the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church each teach visible unity may only be achieved by converting to their denominational beliefs and structure, citing claims of being the one true church.[4][5] The largest ecumenical organization in Christianity is the World Council of Churches.[6][3]

The following is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity among denominations of Christianity, ecumenical organizations, and Christian ideologies not necessarily represented by specific denominations. Only those Christian denominations, ideologies and organizations with Wikipedia articles will be listed in order to ensure that all entries on this list are notable and verifiable. The denominations and ecumenical organizations listed are generally ordered from ancient to contemporary Christianity.

Terminology and qualification

See also: List of Christian denominations by number of members
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a center for Christian unity in Jerusalem

Christianity can be taxonomically divided into six main groups: the

Mennonite, River Brethren, and Schwarzenau Brethren traditions.[11]

Within the Restorationist branch of Christianity, denominations include the Irvingians, Swedenborgians, Christadelphians, Latter Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, La Luz del Mundo, and Iglesia ni Cristo.[12][13][14][15] Among those listed, some bodies included do not consider themselves denominations, though for the purpose of academic study of religion, they are categorized as a denomination, that is, "an organized body of Christians."[16]

St. George's Cathedral in Istanbul

For example, the Catholic Church considers itself the

were historically one and the same, as evidenced by the fact that they are the only two modern churches in existence to accept all of the first seven ecumenical councils, until differences arose, such as papal authority and dominance, the rise of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the continuance of emperors in the Eastern Roman Empire, and the final and permanent split that occurred during the Crusades with the siege of Constantinople.[20]
This also illustrates that denominations can arise not only from religious or theological issues, but political and generational divisions as well.

Other churches that are viewed by non-adherents as denominational are highly decentralized and do not have any formal denominational structure, authority, or record-keeping beyond the local congregation; several groups within the

congregational churches
fall into this category.

Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City

Some Christian bodies are large (e.g. Catholics, Orthodox, Pentecostals and nondenominationals, Anglicans or Baptists), while others are just a few small churches, and in most cases the relative size is not evident in this list except for the denominational group or movement as a whole (e.g. Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox Churches, or Lutheranism). The largest denomination is the Catholic Church with more than 1.3 billion members.[21] The smallest of these groups may have only a few dozen adherents or an unspecified number of participants in independent churches as described below. As such, specific numbers and a certain size may not define a group as a denomination. However, as a general rule, the larger a group becomes, the more acceptance and legitimacy it gains.

Modern movements such as Christian fundamentalism, Radical Pietism, Evangelicalism, the Holiness movement and Charismatic Christianity sometimes cross denominational lines, or in some cases create new denominations out of two or more continuing groups (as is the case for many united and uniting churches, for example; e.g. the United Church of Christ).[22][23] Such subtleties and complexities are not clearly depicted here.

Between denominations, theologians, and comparative religionists there are considerable disagreements about which groups can be properly called Christian or a Christian denomination as disagreements arise primarily from doctrinal differences between each other. As an example, this list contains groups also known as "rites" which many, such as the Roman Catholic Church, would say are not denominations as they are in full papal communion, and thus part of the Catholic Church.[24] For the purpose of simplicity, this list is intended to reflect the self-understanding of each denomination. Explanations of different opinions concerning their status as Christian denominations can be found at their respective articles.

There is no official recognition in most parts of the world for religious bodies, and there is no official clearinghouse which could determine the status or respectability of religious bodies. Often there is considerable disagreement between various groups about whether others should be labeled with pejorative terms such as "cult", or about whether this or that group enjoys some measure of respectability. Such considerations often vary from place to place, or culture to culture, where one denomination may enjoy majority status in one region, but be widely regarded as a "dangerous cult" in another part of the world. Inclusion on this list does not indicate any judgment about the size, importance, or character of a group or its members.

Early Christian

Main articles: Early Christianity, Christianity in the 1st century, and List of Gnostic sects

Early Christianity is often divided into three different branches that differ in theology and traditions, which all appeared in the 1st century

Jewish Christianity, Pauline Christianity and Gnostic Christianity.[25] All modern Christian denominations are said to have descended from the Jewish and Pauline Christianities, with Gnostic Christianity dying, or being hunted out of existence after the early Christian era and being largely forgotten until discoveries made in the late 19th and early twentieth centuries.[26] There are also other theories on the origin of Christianity.[27]

The following Christian groups appeared between the beginning of the Christian religion and the First Council of Nicaea in 325.

Unlike the previously mentioned groups, the following are all considered to be related to Christian Gnosticism.

Late ancient and Medieval Christian

Main articles:
State church of the Roman Empire

The following are groups of Christians appearing between the First Council of Nicaea, the East-West Schism and proto-Protestantism. Among these late ancient and Medieval Christian denominations, the most prominent and continuously operating have been the Church of the East and its successors in Assyrian Christianity; and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. Both the Church of the East and Oriental Orthodox separated from the imperial Roman church during the 5th century.[28]

Church of the East

Further information: Church of the East, Nestorianism, and Schism of 1552

The Church of the East split from the Roman-recognized

dyophysite doctrine of Nestorianism, which emphasizes the separateness of the divine and human natures of Jesus, and addresses Mary as Christotokos instead of Theotokos; the Church of the East also largely practiced aniconism.[30][31] Adhered to by groups such as the Keraites and Naimans (see Christianity among the Mongols), the Church of the East had a prominent presence in Inner Asia between the 11th and 14th centuries, but by the 15th century was largely confined to the Eastern Aramaic-speaking Assyrian communities of northern Mesopotamia, in and around the rough triangle formed by Mosul and Lakes Van and Urmia—the same general region where the Church of the East had first emerged between the 1st and 3rd centuries.[32]

Its patriarchal lines divided in a tumultuous period from the 16th-19th century, finally consolidated into the

Shimun XXI Eshai) and the Chaldean Syrian Church. In 1995 the Chaldean Syrian Church reunified with the Assyrian Church of the East as an archbishopric. The Chaldean Syrian Church is headquartered in Thrissur, India. Together, the Assyrian, Ancient, Chaldean Syrian and Chaldean Catholic Church comprised over 1.6 million in 2018.[35][36][37][38]

Assyrian (Syriac) Christian

Further information: Syriac Christianity

Assyrian Christianity comprises those Eastern churches who kept the traditional Nestorian christology and ecclesiology of the historical Church of the East after the original church reunited with the Catholic Church in Rome, forming the Chaldean Catholic Church in 1552. Assyrian Christianity forms part of the Syriac Christian tradition. The Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East together had over 0.6 million members as of 2018.[39][36]

Oriental Orthodox

Further information: Oriental Orthodox Churches
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The Oriental Orthodox Churches are the Christian churches adhering to

True Orthodoxy, often label the Oriental Orthodox Churches as "Monophysite". As the Oriental Orthodox do not adhere to the teachings of Eutyches
, they themselves reject this label, preferring the term "Miaphysite".

Historically, the Oriental Orthodox Churches considered themselves collectively to be the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church that Jesus founded. Some Christian denominations have recently considered the body of Oriental Orthodoxy to be a part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church—a view which is gaining increasing acceptance in the wake of ecumenical dialogues between groups such as Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman and Eastern Catholicism, and Protestant Christianity.[44][45]

All canonical or mainstream Oriental Orthodox Churches are part of the World Council of Churches,[42] though only five form the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches.[46] Throughout Oriental Orthodoxy, non-mainstream or non-canonical churches have passed in and out of recognition with the mainstream churches (e.g., British Orthodox Church).[47]

Canonical Oriental Orthodox

Independent Oriental Orthodox

Eastern Orthodox

Main article: Eastern Orthodoxy

Eastern Orthodoxy is one of the main Chalcedonian Christian branches, alongside Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.[48][49] Each Eastern Orthodox church considers itself part of the one true church, and pre-denominational. Though they consider themselves pre-denominational, being the original Church of Christ before 1054,[50][18] some scholars suggest the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches began after the East–West Schism.[51][52]

Canonical Eastern Orthodox

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The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, claims continuity (based upon

state church of Rome. The Eastern Orthodox Church had about 230 million members as of 2019, making it the second largest single denomination behind the Catholic Church.[53][54][55] Some of them have a disputed administrative status (i.e. their autonomy or autocephaly is not recognized universally). Eastern Orthodox churches by and large remain in communion with one another, although this has broken at times throughout its history. Two examples of impaired communion between the Orthodox churches include the Moscow–Constantinople schisms of 1996 and 2018.[56][57][58][59] There are also independent churches subscribing to the Eastern Orthodox
traditions.

Independent Eastern Orthodox

Main article:
Eastern Orthodox Church organization § Unrecognized churches

These Eastern Orthodox churches are not in communion with the mainstream or canonical Eastern Orthodox Church. Some of these denominations consider themselves as part of

True Orthodoxy or the Old Believers. True Orthodoxy, or Genuine Orthodoxy, separated from the mainstream church over issues of ecumenism and calendar reform since the 1920s;[60] and the Russian Old Believers refused to accept the liturgical and ritual changes made by Patriarch Nikon of Moscow between 1652 and 1666. Several Old Believer denominations have reunified with the Russian Orthodox Church
and subsequent wider Eastern Orthodox communion.

True Orthodoxy and Old Believers

Catholic

Main articles: Catholic Church and Catholic particular churches and liturgical rites
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    The Catholic Church, or

    particular churches: the Latin Church and the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. It considers itself the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church that Christ founded,[61] and which Saint Peter initiated along with the missionary work of Saint Paul and others. As such, the Catholic Church does not consider itself a denomination, but rather considers itself pre-denominational, the original Church of Christ. Continuity is claimed based upon apostolic succession with the early Church.[62] The Catholic population exceeds 1.3 billion as of 2016,[21] making up the majority of Western Christianity. Stemming from the one Roman Catholic institution, there exists several Independent Catholic churches which have expanded the Catholic denominational family, becoming Old and Old Roman Catholicism, and Liberal Catholics
    .

    Latin (Roman) Catholic

    Further information: Latin Church

    The Latin Church is the largest and most widely known of the 24 sui iuris churches that together make up the Catholic Church.[24] It is headed by the Bishop of Rome—the Pope—with headquarters in Vatican City, enclaved within Rome, Italy. As of 2015, the Latin Church comprised 1.255 billion members.[63]

    Eastern (Oriental) Catholic

    Further information: Eastern Catholic Churches

    All of the following are particular churches of the Catholic Church. They are all in communion with the Pope as Bishop of Rome and acknowledge his claim of universal jurisdiction and authority. They have some minor distinct theological emphases and expressions (for instance, in the case of those that are of Greek/Byzantine tradition, concerning some non-doctrinal aspects of the Latin view of Purgatory and clerical celibacy).[64] The Eastern Catholic Churches and the Latin Church (which are united in the worldwide Catholic Church) share the same doctrine and sacraments, and thus the same faith. The total membership of the churches accounted for approximately 18 million members as of 2019.[65]

    Alexandrian Rite
    Armenian Rite
    Byzantine Rite
    East Syriac Rite
    West Syriac Rite

    Independent Catholic

    Further information: Independent Catholicism, Old Catholic Church, and Independent sacramental movement

    Independent Catholics consists of those denominations embodying catholicity, and have initially separated from the Latin Church in 1724 through the consecrations of bishops for the present-day Old Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht without papal approval.[66][67] Largely distinguished by their rejection of papal infallibility and supremacy, most Independent Catholic churches are unrecognized by the Vatican, although their sacraments have been recognized as valid but illcit.[68]

    Protestant

    Main articles: Protestantism, Reformation, and List of the largest Protestant denominations

    Protestantism is a movement within Christianity which owes its name to the 1529 Protestation at Speyer, but originated in 1517 when Martin Luther began his dispute with the Roman Catholic Church. This period of time, known as the Reformation, began a series of events resulting over the next 500 years in several newly denominated churches (listed below). Some denominations were started by intentionally dividing themselves from the Roman Catholic Church, such as in the case of the English Reformation while others, such as with Luther's followers, were excommunicated after attempting reform.[69] New denominations and organizations formed through further divisions within Protestant churches since the Reformation began. A denomination labeled "Protestant" subscribes to the fundamental Protestant principles—though not always—that is scripture alone, justification by faith alone, and the universal priesthood of believers.[70]

    The majority of contemporary Protestants are members of Adventism, Anglicanism, the Baptist churches, Calvinism (Reformed Protestantism), Lutheranism, Methodism and Pentecostalism.

    charismatic, neo-charismatic, independent, Convergence, and other churches are on the rise, and constitute a significant part of Protestant Christianity.[72]

    This list gives only an overview, and certainly does not mention all of the Protestant denominations. The exact number of Protestant denominations, including the members of the denominations, is difficult to calculate and depends on definition. A group that fits the generally accepted definition of "Protestant" might not officially use the term. Therefore, it should be taken with caution. The most accepted figure among various authors and scholars includes around 900 million to a little over 1 billion Protestant Christians.[73][74]

    Proto-Protestant

    Main article: Proto-Protestantism

    papacy after a military attempt to end their movement failed. On the other hand, the surviving Waldensians
    ended up joining Reformed Protestantism, so it is not completely inaccurate to refer to their movement as Protestant.

    Arnoldists
    Berengarians
    Friends of God
    Hussites
    Lollards
    Pataria
    Petrobrusians
    Piagnoni
    Strigolniki
    Waldensians

    Lutheran

    Main articles: Lutheranism and List of Lutheran denominations
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    Lutherans are a major branch of Protestantism, identifying with the theology of Martin Luther, a German friar, ecclesiastical reformer, and

    Eastern Protestant Christian group.[79]

    Radical Pietist

    Main article: Radical Pietism

    Those who separated from established Lutheran churches to form their own denominations are known as Radical Pietists (as opposed to Pietistic Lutherans, who remain in the Lutheran churches (such as the Church of the Lutheran Brethren) and combine its emphasis on Biblical doctrine with the importance of individual piety and living a holy Christian life.[80] Although the Radical Pietists broke with Lutheranism, its influence on Anglicanism, in particular John Wesley, led to the spawning of the Methodist movement.

    Reformed

    Main articles:
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    Calvinism, also known as the Reformed tradition or Reformed Protestantism is a movement which broke from the Catholic Church in the 16th century. Calvinism follows the theological traditions set down by John Calvin, John Knox and other Reformation-era theologians. Calvinists differ from Lutherans on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, theories of worship, and the use of God's law for believers, among other things. There are from 60 to 80 million Christians identifying as Reformed or Calvinist according to statistics gathered in 2018.[81][82][83]

    Continental Reformed churches

    Main article:
    Continental Reformed church

    Presbyterianism

    Main article: Presbyterianism
    See also:
    List of Presbyterian denominations in North America

    Congregationalism

    Main article:
    Congregational church

    Anglican

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    Anglicanism or Episcopalianism has referred to itself as the

    Reformed. Although the use of the term "Protestant" to refer to Anglicans was once common, it is controversial today, with some rejecting the label and others accepting it. Anglicans numbered over 85 million in 2018.[87]

    Anglican Communion

    United and Uniting churches

    Other Anglican churches and Continuing Anglican movement

    Main article: Continuing Anglican movement

    There are numerous churches following the Anglican tradition that are not in full communion with the Anglican Communion. Some churches split due to changes in the Book of Common Prayer and the ordination of women, forming Anglo-Catholic or Evangelical Anglican communities.[88] A select few of these churches are recognized by certain individual provinces of the Anglican Communion.

    Anabaptist

    Main article:
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    A 1685 illustration by Jan Luyken, published in Martyrs Mirror, of Dirk Willems saving his pursuer, an act of mercy that led to his recapture, after which he was burned at the stake near Asperen in the present-day Netherlands
    A 1685 illustration by Jan Luyken, published in Martyrs Mirror, of Dirk Willems saving his pursuer, an act of mercy that led to his recapture, after which he was burned at the stake near Asperen in the present-day Netherlands
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    The Anabaptists trace their origins to the Radical Reformation. Alternative to other early Protestants, Anabaptists were seen as an early offshoot of Protestantism, although the view has been challenged by some[who?] Anabaptists.[89] There were approximately 2.1 million Anabaptists as of 2015.Union of Congregational Churches in Brazil

    Amish
    Hutterites
    Mennonites
    River Brethren
    Schwarzenau Brethren
    Other Anabaptists

    Baptist

    Main article: Baptists
    See also:
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    Baptism at Northolt Park Baptist Church, in Greater London, Baptist Union of Great Britain, 2015.
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    Baptists emerged as the

    English Puritans were influenced by the Anabaptists, and along with Methodism, grew in size and influence after they sailed to the New World (the remaining Puritans who traveled to the New World were Congregationalists). Some Baptists fit strongly with the Reformed tradition theologically but not denominationally. Some Baptists also adopt presbyterian and episcopal forms of governance. In 2018, there were about 75-105 million Baptists.[81][90]

    Other Baptists

    Bapticostals
    Holiness Baptists
    Seventh Day Baptists
    Spiritual Baptist

    Methodist

    Main articles: Methodism and List of Methodist denominations
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    John Wesley
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    The Methodist movement emerged out the influence of

    episcopacy. Methodists were some of the first Christians to accept women's ordination since the Montanists. Some 60-80 million Christians are Methodists and members of the World Methodist Council.[81][91][92]

    Holiness movement

    Main article: Holiness movement
    See also: Conservative holiness movement

    The Holiness movement emerged from 19th-century Methodism. As of 2015, churches of the movement had an estimated 12 million adherents.[93]

    Keswickian

    Main article: Higher Life movement

    The Higher Life movement emerged in the United Kingdom and emphasized the importance of sanctification, "the deeper and higher life".[94] It became popularized through the Keswick Conventions; W.E. Boardman's Keswickian theology had an influence on A.B. Simpson, who established the Christian and Missionary Alliance.[95]

    Campbellite and Millerite

    Main articles:
    Restoration movement
    See also:
    Kingdom of Jesus Christ
    . There are a little over 7 million Restorationist Christians.

    Stone-Campbell Restoration movement

    Adventist movement

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    Quaker

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    Quakers, or Friends, are members of various movements united by their belief in the ability of each human being to experientially access the light within, or "that of God in every person".[97]

    Shakers

    Plymouth Brethren

    Main article:
    evangelical Christian movement whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s, originating from Anglicanism.[98]

    Irvingist

    Main article: Catholic Apostolic Church

    The Catholic Apostolic churches were born out of the 1830s revival started in London by the teachings of Edward Irving, and out of the resultant Catholic Apostolic Church movement.[99]

    Pentecostal and Charismatic

    Further information: Pentecostalism and Charismatic Christianity
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    Christianity • Protestantism

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    Pentecostalism and Charismatic Christianity began in the 1900s. The two movements emphasize direct personal experience of God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. They represent some of the largest growing movements in Protestant Christianity.[100] As a result of the two movements, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal was established. According to the Pew Research Center, Pentecostals and Charismatics numbered some 280 million people in 2011.[77]

    Other Charismatic movements

    Main article: Charismatic movement

    Neo-charismatic movement

    Main article: Neo-charismatic movement

    Uniting and united

    Main article: United and uniting churches

    These united or uniting churches are the result of a merger between distinct denominational churches (e.g., Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians and the Continental Reformed churches). As ecumenism progresses, unions between various Protestants are becoming more and more common, resulting in a growing number of united and uniting churches. Major examples of uniting churches are the United Protestant Church of France (2013) and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (2004).[101][102] Churches are listed here when their disparate heritage marks them as inappropriately listed in the particular categories above.

    Free Evangelical churches

    Evangelical

    Main articles:
    atonement.[104]

    African Evangelicalism

    • Evangelical Church of West Africa
    P'ent'ay
    Main article: P'ent'ay

    P'ent'ay, simply known as Ethiopian-Eritrean Evangelicalism are a group of indigenous

    Eastern Protestant tradition
    .

    Asian-initiated churches

    Asian-initiated churches are those arising from Chinese and Japanese regions that were formed during repression in authoritarian eras as responses from government crackdowns of their old Christian denominations which were deemed illegal or unrecognized in their countries' state atheism or religion.

    Chinese independent churches
    Main article: Chinese Independent Churches
    • Local Church movement
    Japanese independent churches
    Main article:
    Japanese Independent Churches

    Malaysian evangelicalism

    South American evangelicalism

    Evangelical Free Church denomination (international)

    Internet churches

    Main article: Internet church
    • LifeChurch.tv

    Eastern Protestant

    Main article: Eastern Protestant Christianity

    These churches resulted from a post–1800s reformation of Eastern Christianity, in line with Protestant beliefs and practices.

    Other Protestant churches and movements

    These are denominations, movements, and organizations deriving from mainstream Protestantism but are not classifiable under historic or current Protestant movements nor as parachurch organizations.

    Early modern England

    Miscellaneous

    The following are independent and non-mainstream movements, denominations and organizations formed during various times in the history of Christianity by splitting from mainline Catholicism, Eastern or Oriental Orthodoxy, or Protestantism not classified in the previous lists.

    Independent Russian

    Southcottist

    Main article:
    Southcottism

    Christian Identitist

    Main article: Christian Identity

    Independent/Isolated

    Nontrinitarian

    Main article: Nontrinitarianism

    These groups or organizations diverge from historic trinitarian theology (usually based on the Council of Nicaea) with different interpretations of Nontrinitarianism.

    Oneness Pentecostalism

    Main article: Oneness Pentecostalism

    Unitarian and Universalism

    Main articles:
    Christian Universalism

    Nontrinitarian Restorationism

    Swedenborgianism
    Main article:
    The New Church
    Latter Day Saint movement
    Main articles: Latter Day Saint movement and Mormonism
    See also:
    Mormonism and Christianity

    Most Latter Day Saint denominations are derived from the Church of Christ established by Joseph Smith in 1830. The largest worldwide denomination of this movement, and the one publicly recognized as Mormonism, is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some sects, known as the "Prairie Saints", broke away because they did not recognize Brigham Young as the head of the church, and did not follow him West in the mid-1800s. Other sects broke away over the abandonment of practicing plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto. Other denominations are defined by either a belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet or acceptance of the Book of Mormon as scripture. The Latter Day Saints comprise a little over 16 million members collectively.[106]

    "Prairie Saint" Latter Day Saints
    "Rocky Mountain" Latter Day Saints
    Fundamentalist Rocky Mountain Latter Day Saints
    Main article: Mormon fundamentalism
    Other Latter Day Saint denominations
    British Israelism
    Worldwide Church of God splinter groups
    Bible Students and splinter groups
    Main article: Bible Student movement
    Other Nontrinitarian restorationists

    Christian Science

    Main article: Christian Science

    Esoteric Christianity (Gnosticism)

    Main articles: Esoteric Christianity and Western esotericism

    Other Nontrinitarians

    Judeo-Christian

    Main articles: Judaizers and Judeo-Christian
    See also:
    Messianic Jewish theology and List of Sabbath-keeping churches

    Messianic Judaism

    Black Hebrew Israelites

    Main article: Black Hebrew Israelites

    Caucasian Albanian Orthodox

    • Albanian-Udi Church (registered as an official church in Azerbaijan
      )

    Other groups

    Parachurch

    Main articles: Ecumenism and Parachurch organization

    Parachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism. These organizations are not churches but work with churches or represent a coalition of churches.

    Ideologies

    Main article: List of Christian movements

    A Christian movement is a

    church, sect, or denomination
    .

    Syncretic

    Main article: Syncretism
    See also: Folk Catholicism and Folk Orthodoxy

    The relation of these movements to other Christian ideas can be remote. They are listed here because they include some elements of Christian practice or beliefs, within religious contexts which may be only loosely characterized as Christian.

    African diaspora religions

    African diaspora religions are a number of related religions that developed in the Americas in various nations of the Caribbean, Latin America and the Southern United States. They derive from traditional African religions with some influence from other religious traditions, notably Christianity and Islam. Examples incorporating elements of Christianity include but are not limited to:

    New Thought

    Main article: New Thought

    The relation of New Thought to Christianity is not defined as exclusive; some of its adherents see themselves as solely practicing Christianity, while adherents of Religious Science say "yes and no" to the question of whether they consider themselves to be Christian in belief and practice, leaving it up to the individual to define oneself spiritually.

    Other syncretists

    Other Christian or Christian-influenced syncretic traditions and movements include:

    Historical movements with strong syncretic influence from Christianity but no active modern membership include

    See also

    References

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    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Christian_denominations&oldid=1218717646"