DENOMINATIONAL GROUPS





DEFINING “A RELIGION”


Defining what “a religion” is rather than what “religion” is

What is “a religion”?

If a religion is defined from the perspective of its adherents, a religion might be defined in terms of the following characteristics
Uniqueness: A group of adherents who profess what they deem to be a unique set of beliefs
   
Loyalty: A group of adherents who give their primary religious loyalty to that religion
   
Autonomy: A group of adherents who independently manage their own affairs without reliance on other religions
   
Coherence: A group of adherents who use their own culture, traditions, forms of organization in their religious practice

Continuity: A group of adherents who acknowledge a common historical lineage
Contemporary major religions have all emerged from earlier religions. The problem with strictly historical classification schemes is that they end up grouping denominations together which share a common ancestry, but which are now quite different.

The major world religions are not unified bodies that hold identical doctrines and engage in identical ritual practices. All of the major world religions have experienced at least a  few (Baha’i, Zoroastrianism) and often many schisms and divisions (Christianity). Therefore major religions have various subgroups (branches, denominations, schools, movements, sects). While these subgroups may trace a common historical lineage, they also may have little else in common with one another and may be more similar to subgroups in other religions in many respects.

Most religions also have  some type of associational unit. Sometimes there are more elaborated levels of organization

Religions use different titles for their associational units
Congregation or Church (Protestant)

Parish (Catholic)

Ward (Latter-day Saints)

Synagogue or Temple (Jewish)

Coven or Circle (Wiccan)

Local Assemblies (Baha’i)

Gurdwara (Sikh)




DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION

Religion (Christianity)

Branch (Protestantism)
A subdivision of a religion
Denominational Family (Presbyterianism)
An alliance of denominations that at an earlier point in history were a single movement or religious body
Denomination or Body (Presbyterian Church, USA)
An administrative organization that represents (by serving or orchestrating) participating congregations
Congregation (Oakview Presbyterian Church)
An associational unit of adherents who gather as stipulated by doctrines and rituals

Source: www.Adherents.com






GLOBAL STATUS OF MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS
(RANKED BY MEMBERSHIP SIZE)


Religionists                      WORLD                              UNITED STATES
                                            (2000)                    (1970)             (2000)             (2025)

    Christians                 1,999,564,000        191,182,000    235,741,000    266,348,500   
   
    Muslims                    1,888,243,000               800,000        4,131,910        5,290,000   
   
    Hindus                          811,336,000               100,000        1,031,677        1,500,000
   
    Buddhists                      359,982,000              200,000        2,449,570        5,000,000
   
    Ethnoreligionists           228,367,000                 0,000            434,851           500,000
   
    Sikhs                                23,258,000                 1,000            233,820           310,000
   
    Jews                                 14,434,000          6,700,000         5,621,339        6,100,000

    Confucianists                     6,299,000                    ***               ***                 ***

    Babi and Baha'i                 7,106,000             138,000            753,423        1,150,000

    Jains                                   4,218,000                    000                6,959               7,000

    Shinto                                  2,762,000                    000              56,220             70,000

    Zoroastrians                        2,544,000                    000              52,721             84,000

Nonreligionists                    918,249,000        10,070,000       25,077,844      40,000,000

    Agnostics                         768,159,000                ***                  ***                   ***
   
(Nonreligious)

    Aetheists                          150,090,000              200,000        1,149,486        1,600,000
     
(Anti-religionists)


The term “major world religion” generally applies to groups that are of major historical and cultural significance. Precisely what should be deemed a major world religion is a matter of some disagreement. Baha'ism may be omitted because it is a recent tradition or mis-classified as an Islamic sect. Zoroastrianism and Shinto may be omitted because they are relatively small and geographically limited. Confucianism and Taoism may be omitted because they are defined as ethical systems rather than religions and have few formal adherents with a primary loyalty to them.


Source: World Christian Encyclopedia






 LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE DENOMINATIONAL RANKING

Liberal Protestants

Moderate Protestants Conservative Protestants


Black Protestants

Others No Religious Preference