User:Filll/Denominations


 * The World Christian Database (2004), compiled by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary includes 9000 Christian denominations.
 * Dictionary of Christianity in America (1989) states that "As of 1980 David B. Barrett identified 20,800 Christian denominations worldwide . . ."
 * The United Nations states that there were over 23,000 in 1989.
 * The  Encyclopedia of Christianity (1999) stated that "In 1985 David Barrett could count 22,150 distinct denominations worldwide."


 * The World Christian Encyclopedia (1982) stated that the number of denominations will be ". . . a projected 22,190 by 1985 . . . The present net increase is 270 denominations each year (five new ones a week)."
 * The World Christian Encyclopedia(2001) stated that there are "over 33,000  denominations in 238 countries." (Table 1-5, vol 1, page 16).
 * "According to Barrett’s calculations, there are 8,196 denominations within Protestantism—not 25,000 as Roman Catholic apologists so cavalierly and carelessly claim."

Trend
1970: 26,350 1995: 33,820


 * More than 1500 faith groups in Christianity.

The World Christian Encyclopedia definition of "denomination" is
 * "an organized Christian Church or tradition or religious group or community of believers or aggregate of worship centers or congregations, usually within a specific country, whose component congregations and members are called by the same name in different areas, regarding themselves as an autonomous Christian church distinct from other denominations, churches and traditions."