Christianity is the largest religion of the world founded by ‘Ministry of Jesus’ between 31 AD and 36 AD in Judea, Palestine. This religion is based on the life and teachings of the prophet, Jesus Christ. ‘Christian Bible’ is the collection of sacred scriptures for the religion which is divided into two parts, ‘Old Testament’ and ‘New Testament’.
Read more about the religion:
This religion also has a significant relation with the calendar system, majority of us follow, the Gregorian Calendar. Read more about it at:
Even though, Christianity doesn’t seem to support the sectarianism and classifications of the humans (especially the believers) but human beings have still created certain sects which act as a big differentiator.
Here are almost all the denomintations along with their branches and sects:
1. Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy is the often considered as the oldest denominations in Chrisitanity founded between 1 AD to 100 AD in the Byzantine Empire. It accounts about 12% of the global population (Pew, 2011). Majority of the people from this denomination are located in Eastern Europe (Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, etc), Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Middle-East (Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Israel etc) and North Africa (Egypt, Morocco etc). The early followers of this sect are often regarded to be a part of Roman Catholics before until they got split from Roman Catholics in 1054.
This denomination is different from other denominations because of differences in their philosophies and practices. The major ones include; one, they reject the ‘Papal Authority’ which means they believe the Pope of Vactican is NOT the supereme authority for doctrine and governance, rather they believe in the philosophy of “first among equals”. Two, The Eastern Orthodox sect accepts accepts the ‘Council of Chalcedon’ which states that Jesus has two natures, one is human and another is “fully divine” (god) but Oriental Orthodox sect does not. Three, they DO NOT worship Mother Mary (the mother of Jesus).
Under this denomination, we have two main branches (sects) majorly made on the basis of doctrine, historical and geographical factors. Here are those:
1. Eastern Orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodoxy was started between 1 AD to 100 AD in the Byzantine Empire. The “Eastern” word in its name come from the ‘Eastern Roman Empire’, which is another name given to the Byzantine Empire. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (located in Istanbul, Turkey) is the administrative center.
This sect accepts the ‘Council of Chalcedon’ which states that Jesus has two natures, one is human and another is “fully divine” (god).
This branch further consist of sub-sects which include Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Antiochian Orthodox, Orthodox of Jerusalem, Ukrainian Orthodox, Cypriot Orthodox, Polish Orthodox, Czech and Slovak Orthodox and Albanian Orthodox.
2. Oriental Orthodoxy
Oriental Orthodoxy was started between 1 AD to 100 AD in Byzantine Empire but in 451 it was exclusively formed by splitting from the Eastern Orthodoxy. Unlike some Christian sects, this sect does not have a single administrative center, rather, it has multiple which include Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria (in Egypt), Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (in Ethiopia), Armenian Apostolic Church (in Armenia), and Syriac Orthodox Church (in Syria).
This sect was separated from the Eastern Orthodoxy sect because it did NOT accept ‘Council of Chalcedon’ which states that Jesus has two natures, one is human and another is “fully divine” (god).
This branch further consist of sub-sects which include Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Indian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Malabar Independent Syrian Church and Egyptian Orthodox Church.
2. Roman Catholicism
Roman Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity founded between in 1 AD to 100 AD in today’s Rome, Italy under Roman Empire. Unlike some Christian denominations or sects, this denomination does not have any sects or sub-sects under it. It accounts about 50% of the global population (Pew, 2011). Majority of the people of this denomination are located in Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica etc), Europe (UK, Italy, France, Poland etc), Democratic Republic of Congo.
This denomination is different from other denominations because of differences in their philosophies and practices. The major ones include; one, they accept the ‘Papal Authority’ which means they believe the Pope of Vactican as the supereme authority for doctrine and governance. Two, this sect accepts the ‘Council of Chalcedon’ which states that Jesus has two natures, one is human and another is “fully divine” (god). Three, they worship Mother Mary (the mother of Jesus).
In 1054, ‘Great Schism of 1054’ occured which was an event officially recognising the split and creation of Orthodoxes from Roman Catholics.
3. Protestantism
Protestantism is a denomination of Christianity founded in 1517 by the German Monk and Professor, Martin Luther, in Wittenberg, Germany. It has various sects which include Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Anabaptists (include Amish people), Methodism, Presbyterianism, Pentecostalism, Mormonism and so on. It accounts about 37% of the global population (Pew, 2011). Majority of the people of this denomination are located in North America (USA, Canada etc), Nordic European countries (Sweden, Norway etc), South African countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Zambia etc), Oceania (Australia, New Zealands, Fiji, Palau etc).
This denomination is different from other denominations because of differences in their philosophies and practices. The major one include; one, they reject the ‘Papal Authority’ which means they DO NOT believe the Pope of Vactican as the supereme authority for doctrine and governance. Two, this sect accepts the ‘Council of Chalcedon’ which states that Jesus has two natures, one is human and another is “fully divine” (god). Three, they DO NOT worship Mother Mary (the mother of Jesus).
Since there are many sects of Protestantism, we will study only the majority ones:
| Creteria | Lutheranism | Anglicanism | Baptistism |
| When, where and by whom | It was founded by Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon in 1517 in today’s Wittenberg, Germany. | It was founded under Henry VIII by various scholars in 1534 in today’s England, United Kingdom. | It was founded by John Smyth and Thomas Helwys in 1609 in today’s Amsterdam, Netherlands. |
| Rituals | It is Liturgical (a ritual style consisting of certain prayers, readings and ceremonies). | It is Liturgical (a ritual style consisting of certain prayers, readings and ceremonies). | It is NOT Liturgical (a ritual style consisting of certain prayers, readings and ceremonies). |
| Governance | Less democratic (since it is Episcopalian to elect bishops and make decisions) | Less democratic (since it is Episcopalian to elect bishops and make decisions) | MORE democratic (since it is congregational to elect bishops and make decisions) |
| Belief for Eucharist | They believe in “real presence” – Jesus’s blood and body is present spiritually in the food they eat (usually bread and wine) with LESS theological diversity. | They believe in “real presence” – Jesus’s blood and body is present spiritually in the food they eat (usually bread and wine) with theological diversity. | They DO NOT believe in “real presence” – Jesus’s blood and body is present spiritually in the food they eat (usually bread and wine) with theological diversity. |
| Ideology | They believe in “justification by faith alone” which means than the way to get salvation/heaven is the ONLY PRIMARY WAY to have faith in Jesus Christ. | Some of the followers believe and some don’t when it comes to “justification by faith alone” which means than the way to get salvation/heaven is the ONLY PRIMARY WAY to have faith in Jesus Christ. | Majority believe in “justification by faith alone” which means than the way to get salvation/heaven is the ONLY PRIMARY WAY to have faith in Jesus Christ. |
| Confession church | They have a confessional church – a clear documentation of beliefs, traditions etc. | They DO NOT have a confessional church – a clear documentation of beliefs, traditions etc. | They DO NOT have a confessional church – a clear documentation of beliefs, traditions etc. |
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