Denomination

{{religion}}
A '''denomination''' is a formally recognized, organized branch of a [[religion]]. In contrast, a [[sect]] is an unorganized, unrecognized branch of a religion.

Denominations are generally created after a [[schism|fist fight between two church leaders]], often over ridiculous things like whether we should forgive our "debtors" or "those who trespass against us," whether the [[King James Only|KJV]] is better than some other [[Bible]] (because Jesus must have spoken the King's English, right?), or whether you should have your [[Religious leaders|minister]] serve for a long term or be a one-man minstrel show (''usually'' without the blackface, at least in our times) wandering from church to church each year. Serious issues can include things like the very nature of [[God]], the eminence of the [[Holy Spirit]], or the role of [[priest]]s and ministers. Social issues, like the [[same sex marriage|rights of gays]], [[Religious leaders#Women in Clergy|women in the clergy]], and the inclusion of different [[race]]s can all cause [[schism]]s, which often lead to new denominations.

==Christianity==
There are many Christian denominations, but a non-exhaustive list is: [[Amish]], [[Baptist]], [[Christian Science]], [[Churches of Christ]], [[Church of England]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], [[Episcopal Church]], [[Hutterites]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Local Church]], [[Lutheranism]], [[Mormon]], [[Methodist]], [[Presbyterianism]], [[Protestant]], [[Roman Catholic Church]], [[Seventh Day Adventism]], [[Shakers]], [[Society of Friends]], [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]], [[Unitarianism]] and [[United Church of Christ]].

===Anglicanism===
If you are the King of England, and really really really want a male heir/new wife, you can just make [[Church of England|a new denomination]], say "We never married, I divorce thee, I divorce thee",<ref group=note>Historical note: King Henry VIII actually ''annulled'' his first marriage rather than getting a divorce.</ref> then marry the new hot young thing.

==Catholicism==
Some Catholics do not consider [[Catholicism]] to be a denomination of the Christian Body at large,<ref>[http://christianity.about.com/od/romancatholicdenomination/i/feedbackcatholi_2.htm About.com.Christianity:Reader Feedback - "Roman Catholicism is not a Denomination"]</ref> possibly because (to them) everyone else split off. Many others think that's just whacked and anyone spouting the religion of [[Jesus]] is part of some denomination of Christianity.

[[Mormonism|Moronism]] is also sometimes considered too different from Christianity and a different religion rather than a denomination.<ref>Some [[Freeper|Freepers]] [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2857696/posts discuss the issue]</ref>

=="Nondenominational" churches==
Recently, there has been an upswing in the number of churches billing themselves as "nondenominational churches." It would appear that "nondenominational church" is just code for "church whose minister is too crazy to get the support of any real denomination." [[Ted Haggard]]'s church, for example, is nondenominational.<ref>[http://www.newlifechurch.org/ The New Life Church's website]</ref> This term may also refer to (less wingnutty) congregations that try to avoid dealing with the more schism-prone subjects at all so as to serve a broader subset of Christians. While this doesn't sound too weird in theory, in practice it tends to lead to situations similar to that of, say, employees of [[Rick Scott]]'s Florida.

==See also==
*[[Protestant Reformation]]
*[[Judaism]]
==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Religious terms]]

Categories: Christianity, Religious terms