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Now, you know he only has ten fingers and toes. or is that eight and two thumbs?
I swear that if someone were to give him a list of 40,999 and he were to count every denomination on the list, he'd say, "See! I told you there aren't 41,000! Stop exaggerating!"
I swear that if someone were to give him a list of 40,999 and he were to count every denomination on the list, he'd say, "See! I told you there aren't 41,000! Stop exaggerating!"
I've said it many times if you'd care to listen that there are many excellent denominations. I've belonged to churches in several different ones over the years.
And no, that wikipedia page doesn't give a list of 41,000.
I'm just saying if one makes the claim, then one should be able to back it up. Yes, there are way too many. Many have split for the wrong reasons, others are legitimate. But the only way to get 41,000 denominations in this country is to play games with the definition of a denomination.
I think they estimate the number as being so high because they would count every stand-alone "non-denominational" church as being its own denomination.
I think they estimate the number as being so high because they would count every stand-alone "non-denominational" church as being its own denomination.
It's not technically untrue...
Thanks. That is my point. And I'll say it again, not every "denomination" listed has anything to do with Christianity. Any fool can plainly see that they teach much different things.
I swear that if someone were to give him a list of 40,999 and he were to count every denomination on the list, he'd say, "See! I told you there aren't 41,000! Stop exaggerating!"
Not really. I think this fallacy started with a claim of 33k or something like that. And it's been debunked by people that are much smarter than me. I just ask for honesty. The issue is that many people repeating the claim have never really stopped to think critically about the claim, so they just repeat it.
The same way you'd expect me to represent you honestly if I were to make any statements about your church. And it's reasonable to expect that.
Thanks. That is my point. And I'll say it again, not every "denomination" listed has anything to do with Christianity. Any fool can plainly see that they teach much different things.
The problem is that if you don't have an authoritative body to dogmatically declare what is and what isn't Christianity, then who's to say?
Just because a denomination teaches things that you believe are unorthodox; if they call themselves Christian, who are you to say that they don't count as a Christian denomination?
If you say "their teachings contradict the Bible" - well, maybe for them Christianity isn't defined by the words of the Bible.
The problem is that if you don't have an authoritative body to dogmatically declare what is and what isn't Christianity, then who's to say?
Just because a denomination teaches things that you believe are unorthodox; if they call themselves Christian, who are you to say that they don't count as a Christian denomination?
If you say "their teachings contradict the Bible" - well, maybe for them Christianity isn't defined by the words of the Bible.
That would be an issue, wouldn't it? Imagine Peter, James, John, Paul writing a letter saying "well...I know you don't believe Genesis, but....." It just wouldn't happen.
Thanks. That is my point. And I'll say it again, not every "denomination" listed has anything to do with Christianity. Any fool can plainly see that they teach much different things.
If they teach Jesus Christ is our Savior, they have plenty to do with Christianity, and I suspect every denomination that is counted as Christian teaches at least that much.
The problem is that if you don't have an authoritative body to dogmatically declare what is and what isn't Christianity, then who's to say?
And this, IMO, is huge. This is what sets Roman Catholicism apart from Protestantism.
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or is that eight and two thumbs? 
