They were part of local institutions led by elected officials, all very political in nature.
There were at least a dozen branches of Judaism extant in the Middle East in their time. The Pharasees and Sadducees are 2 mentioned in the NT. These were, by any rubric, denominations.
Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple signaled a division within the political structure of the local Jewish community.
The Temple was not, as you seem to suggest, monolithic and solely expressive of the Will of God.
Are you saying that to be a Methodist is to be Christian? On a “deeper” level, does membership in a Christian religious institution make one a follower of Christ or simply an adherent of specific denominational doctrine?
Wonderful information, but you answered neither question.
What I’m saying is that being Methodist doesn’t make you Christian or make you not Christian.