30,000 Protestant Denominations?

http://www.pressiechurch.org/Shepherding_the_Sheep/How%20many%20Protestant%20denominations%20are%20there.htm ^ | 9/24/02 | Eric Svendsen 

[Notwithstanding]

Do YOU really believe that most Protestants believe the doctrine??

[Notwithstanding]

Exactly, those groups generally splintered off from the "reformed" groups due to doctrinal diffeences.

[RnMomof7]

Memory says that you'd find in the neighborhood of 200 or so distinctive non-Roman Catholic, Christian religious denominations. You can order the book from Air Force publications. I can get you an address if you're interested.

And I THINK that is even "high" if we are discussing doctrine...

for instance doctrinally your church has few distinctives with the other "Wesleyan" churches.(except you are more liberal:>)

[RnMomof7]

That said ... how many reps, govs, senators, etc. are non-Catholic and pro-choice?

Lots..but for most of them it is not a doctrinal breach..that was his point

[Desdemona]

I guess they needed some word to express non-Roman Catholic Christian so they came up with "protestant."

The word comes from the protest. The founders of protestant sects didn't like what the original, main church said, so they protested - and either left or were kicked out. Their followers were identified as "protestants."

[RnMomof7]

an excellent point Mom - I can attest it is accurate from my limited experience having been raised in an Italian Catholic household. It was inherited with the family sauce recipe.

When my sisters and I all left "the church" all my dad (who was "excommunicated" for marrying a divorced woman) could say is "we are a catholic family, we have always been a catholic family"...Well that has changed we are now a protestant family that has some Catholic relatives *grin*.

All of us "girls" have left.. and our families are for the most part non Catholic..

[RnMomof7]

The Assemblies of God, eg, didn't even exist in the reformation. NOR did the Methodists, Church of Christ, and Evangelical Free....and etc.

yep as I always tell you you are NOT a Protestant (except to the Catholics *grin*)

[xzins]

except you are more liberal:>)

The correct term is "more sane." Have you ever tried to use the bible to prove the old holiness doctrine of sinless perfection? Those folks were way out of line biblically. They'd let their theology run far away from their bible.

Besides, you just might be surprised how really conservative I am.

[RnMomof7]

Do YOU really believe that most Protestants believe the doctrine??

Yes and I will tell you why..If they have a doctrinal "problem" with one or more of the points they have the option of other churches that better reflect their beliefs..Doctrine is very important to "observant" Protestants .Yes there are Sunday and holiday Protestants just as their are Catholics..But by and large they select their "Sunday" church with care ..

[xzins]

. The founders of protestant sects didn't like what the original, main church said, so they protested

Yeah, I know that part. That's why they called Luther's, Calvin's, Henry's (although his wasn't doctrinal) and a very few others "protestants."

But why do you call "evangelical congregational" protestant? They didn't exist until 400 years later, they're not protesting anything, and they are only connected to those original groups through splinters of splinters of splinters.

If it's fair to trace splinters back, then it makes exactly as much sense to call them Roman Catholic.

[RnMomof7]

You my dear friend are an exception to the Methodist rule . I have known that a long time

[al_c]

Lots..but for most of them it is not a doctrinal breach..that was his point

Point taken. But it's sad that it's not a doctrinal breach for them. :o(

[SoothingDave]

Uh ... Dave ... how many times did Jesus refer to God as "Father?"

I don't deny that God is revealed to us as Father. And I abhor the use of inclusive language, as it is against revelation. however, this does not make God male.

But, why repeat? What Notwithstanding said:

"In His image He created them. Male and female He created them."

Now, if women are created in God's image, it seems apparent that God has the attributes of both males and females, without nullifying the fact that God chose to reveal Himself as Father and Son and use masculine pronouns in Scripture when referring to the Holy Spirit.

God is greater than either male of female.

SD

[SoothingDave]

But why do you call "evangelical congregational" protestant? They didn't exist until 400 years later, they're not protesting anything, and they are only connected to those original groups through splinters of splinters of splinters.

Sure they're protesting. Otherwise why the "splinters?"

Protestors of protestors of protestors of protestors in a direct link back to the original Protestors.

SD

[xzins]

Sure they're protesting. Otherwise why the "splinters?"

The protest must be against the Roman Catholic Church for the appellation "Protestant" to apply.

Since real Catholics protest abortion, am I to conclude they are also protestants?

Besides it doesn't necessarily follow that a splinter implies a protest. It could be a different vision with no protest. It could be an isolation that brought about a new group by neccessity. It could be a purely political reason for denominations to spring up....something that happened regularly during the civil war.

[OLD REGGIE]

No, thank you. I was just interested in the number that protestants would find acceptable.

Why do you insist on an answer which is impossible to give? Are you aware of any single "authority" which speaks for all Protestants? If so, ask that "authority"?

[SoothingDave]

The protest must be against the Roman Catholic Church for the appellation "Protestant" to apply.

I agree. Are you suggesting that these groups are in agreement with Roman theology? Of course not. They merely add to their protest of Rome protest of the group from which they splintered.

(I do acknowledge that this is for purely political reasons at times, but even then the spirit of protesting Rome remains.)

SD

[OLD REGGIE]

The word comes from the protest. The founders of protestant sects didn't like what the original, main church said, so they protested - and either left or were kicked out. Their followers were identified as "protestants."

Really?

"Whereas Roman apologists often tend to think of the term "protest" in negative manner, the word derives from the Latin pro + testare, which together mean "to witness for". In other words, to "protest" is an essentially positive action, not a negative one."

For a different perspective Go here:

[OLD REGGIE]

Protestors of protestors of protestors of protestors in a direct link back to the original Protestors.

Oh? All the way back to the One True Original Church!

[xzins]

I guess we're looking at it from different angles. I'm looking at the historical split. You're looking at a "process" that leads to any split.

I don't even think about whether I'm in agreement with Roman theology. It isn't an issue. I'm not protesting anything having to do with them.

I disagree on some things. I agree on others. If my disagreements make me a "protester" do my agreements make me a "kissin' cousin?" LOL :>)