| Denomination | Origins | Organization | Authority | Special Rites | Practice | Ethics | Doctrine | Other | Neo-Orthodoxy |
| Baptists | In radical Reformation, objections to infant baptism, demands for church and state separation; John Smyth, English Separatist, in 1609; Roger Williams, 1638, Providence, RI. | Congregational; each local church is autonomous. | Scripture; some Baptists, particularly in the South, interpret the Bible literally. | Baptism; usually early teen years or later, by total immersion; Lord's Supper | Worship style varies from staid to evangelistic; extensive missionary activity. | Usually opposed to alcohol and tobacco; some tendency toward a perfectionist ethical standard. | No creed; true church is of believers only who are all equal. | Believing no authority can stand between the believer an God, the Baptists are strong supporters of church and state separation. | Once saved, always saved. Communion monthly. Baptism required for Church membership but not salvation. |
| Church of Christ (Disciples) | Among evangelical Presbyterians in KY (1804) and PA (1809), in distress over Protestant factionalism and decline of fervor; organized in 1832 | Congregational | "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent" | Adult baptism; Lord's Supper weekly. | Tries to avoid any rite not considered part of the 1st-century church; some congregations may reject instrumental music. | Some tendency toward perfectionism; increasing interest in social action programs. | Simple New Testament faith; avoids any elaboration not firmly based on Scripture. | Highly tolerant in doctrinal and religious matters; strongly supportive of scholarly education. | Liberal in all theology. |
| Episcopalians | Henry VIII separated English Catholic Church from Rome, 1534, for political reasons; Protestant Episcopal Church in U.S. founded 1789. | Diocesan bishops, in apostolic succession, are elected by parish representatives; the national Church is headed by General Convention and Presiding Bishop; part of the Anglican Communion | Scripture as interpreted by tradition, especially 39 Articles (1563); not dogmatic; tri-annual convention of bishops, priests, and laypeople. | Infant baptism, Eucharist, and other sacraments; sacrament taken to be symbolic, but as having real spiritual effect. | Formal, based on "Book of Common Prayer" updated 1979; services range from austerely simple to highly liturgical. | Tolerant, sometimes permission; some social action programs. | Scripture: the "historic creeds," which include the Apostles, Nicene, an Athanasian, and the "Book of Common Prayer:' ranges from Anglo-Catholic to low church, with Calvanist influences. | Strongly ecumenical, holding talks with many branches of Christendom | Active in homosexual rights, ordained gay ministers, married gay "couples". |
| Jehovah's Witnesses | Founded in 1870 in PA by Charles Taze Russell; incorporated as Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of PA, 1884; name Jahovah's Witnesses adopted 1931. | A governing body located in NY coordinates worldwide activities; each congregation cared for by a body of elders; each Witness considered a minister. | The Bible. | Baptism by immersion; annual Lord's Meal ceremony. | Meetings are held in Kingdom Halls and members' homes for study and worship; extensive door-to-door visitations. | High moral code; stress on marital fidelity and family values; avoidance of tobacco and blood transfusions. | God, by his first creation, Christ, will soon destroy all wickedness; 144,000 faithful ones will rule in heaven with Christ over others on paradise earth. | Total allegiance proclaimed only to God's kingdom or heavenly government by Christ; main periodical The Watchtowers, is printed in 115 languages | Only true church. Faithful will be gods on other planets. |
| Latter-Day; Saints (Mormons) | In a vision of the Father and the Son reported by Joseph Smith (1820s) in NY. Smith also reported receiving new scripture on golden tablets; The Book of Mormon. | Theocratic; 1st Presidency (church president, 2 counselors), 12 Apostles preside over International church. Local congregations headed by lay priesthood leaders. | Revelation to living prophet (church president). The Bible, Book of Mormon, and other revelations to Smith and successors. | Baptism at age 8; laying on of hands (which confers the gift of the Holy Ghost); Lord's Supper; temple rites; baptism for the dead, marriage for eternity. | Simple service with prayers, hymns, sermon; private temple ceremonies may be more elaborate. | Temperance; strict moral code; tithing; a strong work ethic and communal self-reliance; strong missionary activity; family emphasis. | Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Eternal Father. Jesus' atonement saves all humans; those who are obedient to God's laws may become join-heirs with Christ in God's kingdom. | Mormons believe theirs is the true church of Jesus Christ, restored by God through Joseph Smith. Official name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. | God was once a human. Spirit marriage and spirit-children production in heaven. |
| Lutherans | Begun by Martin Luther in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517; objection to Catholic doctrine of salvation and sale of indulgences; break complete, 1519. | Varies from congregational to Episcopal; in U.S. a combination of regional synods and congregational policies is most common. | Scripture alone. The Book of Concord (1580), which includes the three Ecumenical Creeds, is subscribed to as a correct exposition of Scripture. | Infant baptism, Lord's Supper; Christ's true body and blood present 'in, with, and under the bread and wine". | Relatively simple, formal liturgy with emphasis on the sermon. | Generally conservative in personal and social ethics; doctrine of "2 kingdoms" worldly and holy supports conservatism in secular affairs. | Salvation by grace alone through faith; Lutheranism has made major contributions to Protestant theology. | Though still somewhat divided along ethnic lines (German, Swedish, etc.) main divisions are between fundamentalists and liberals. | Gradually moving toward univeral liberalism. |
| Methodists | Rev. John Wesley began movement in 1738; within Church of England; first U.S. denomination, Baltimore (1784) | Conference and superintendent system; In United Methodist Church, general superintendents are bishops - not a priestly order, only an office - who are elected for life. | Scripture as interpreted by tradition, reason and experience. | Baptism of infants or adults; Lord's Supper commanded; other rites include marriage, ordination, solemnization of personal commitments. | Worship style varies widely by denomination, local church , geography. | Originally pietist and perfectionist; always strong social activist elements. | No distinctive theological development; 25 Articles abridged from Church of England's 39, not binding. | In 1968, The United Methodist Church was formed by the union of The Methodist Church an The Evangelical United Brethern Church. | Liberal theology. |
| Orthodox | Developed in original Christian proselytizing; broke with Rome in 1054, after centuries of doctrinal disputes and changing traditions. | Synods of bishops in autonomous, usually rational, churches elect a patriarch, archbishop, or metropolitan; these men, as a group, are the heads of the Church. | Scripture, tradition, an the first church councils up to Nicaea II in 787; bishop sin council have authority in doctrine and policy. | Seven sacraments; infant baptism and anointing, Eucharist, ordination, penance and marriage | Elaborate liturgy, usually in the vernacular, though extremely traditional; the liturgy is the essence of Orthodoxy; veneration of icons. | Tolerant; little stress on social action; divorce remarriage permitted in some cases; bishops are celibate; priests need not be; | Emphasis on Christ's resurrection, rather than crucifixion; the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father only. | Orthodox Church in America originally under Patriarch of Moscow, was granted autonomy in 1970; Greek Orthodox do not recognize this autonomy. | Icon worship (2d rather than 3d) |
| Pentecostal | In Topeka, KS (1901) and Los Angeles (1906), in reaction to perceived loss of evangelical fervor among Methodists and others | Originally a movement, not a formal organization, Pentecostalism now has a variety of organized forms and continues also as a movement. | Scripture, individual charismatic leaders, the teachings of the Holy Spirit | Spirit Baptism, especially as shown in "speaking in tongues"; healing and sometimes exorcism; adult baptism, Lord's Supper | Loosely structured service with rousing hymns and sermons, cumulating in spirit baptism. | Usually, emphasis on perfectionism, with varying degrees of tolerance. | Simple traditional beliefs, usually Protestant, with emphasis on the immediate presence of God in the Holy Spirit | Once confined to lower-class "holy rollers," Pentecostalism now appears in mainline churches and has established middle-class congregations. | Misunderstanding and misapplication of sign gifts. |
| Presbyterians | In 16th-cent. Calvinist Reformation; differed with Lutherans over sacraments, church government; John Knox founded Scotch Presbyterian church about 1560 | Highly structured representational system of ministers and laypersons (presbyters) in local, regional, and national bodies (synods). | Scripture | Infant Baptism; Lord's Supper; bread and wine symbolize Christ's spiritual presence. | A simple sober service in which the sermon is central. | Traditionally a tendency towards strictness, with firm church and self discipline; otherwise tolerant. | Emphasizes the sovereignty and justice of God; no longer dogmatic. | Although traces of belief in predestination (that God has foreordained salvation for the "elect") remains, this idea is no longer a central element in Presbyterianism. | Moving rapidly toward liberal theology. |
| Roman Catholics | Traditionally, founded by Jesus who names St. Peter the 1st vicar; developed in early Christian proselytizing, especially after the conversion of imperial Rome in the 4th cent. | Hierarchy with supreme power vested in pope elected by cardinals; councils of bishops advise on matters of doctrine and policy. | The pope when speaking for the whole church in matters of faith and morals; and tradition which is partly recorded in Scripture and expressed in church councils. | Mass; 7 sacraments: baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist, confirmation, marriage, ordination and anointing of the sick (unction). | Relatively elaborate ritual centered on the Mass; also rosary recitation, novenas, etc. | Traditionally strict but increasingly tolerant in practice; divorce an remarriage is accept, but annulments sometimes granted; celibate clergy, except in Eastern rite. | Highly elaborated; salvation by merit gained through grace; dogmatic; special veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus. | Relatively rapid change followed Vatican Council II; Mass now in vernacular more stress on social action, tolerance, ecumenism. | Pope head of the church instead of Christ. Mary: perpetual virginity, immaculate conception, ascention into heaven, co-redemptrix, intercessor. Salvation by works. Purgatory, saints, relics, indulgences, communion, mass |
| United Church of Christ | By ecumenical union, in 1957, of Congregationalists and Evangelical & Reformed, representing both Calvinist and Lutheran traditions. | Congregational; a General Synod, representative of al congregations, sets general policy. | Scripture | Infant baptism, Lord's Supper". | Usually simple services with emphasis on the sermon. | Tolerant; some social action emphasis | Standard Protestant: "Statement of Faith" (1959) is not binding. | The 2 main churches in the 1957 union represented earlier unions with small groups of almost every Protestant denomination. | Too many "Church of Christ" |
| World Religions | |||||||||
| Christians | 1,943,038,000 | Jews | 14,111,000 | ||||||
| Rom.Catholics | 1,026,501,000 | Spiritistst | 11,785,000 | ||||||
| Protestants | 316,445,000 | Baha'is | 6,764,000 | ||||||
| Orthodox | 213,743,000 | Confucianists | 6,241,000 | ||||||
| Anglicans | 63,748,000 | Jains | 3,922,000 | ||||||
| Muslims | 1,164,622,000 | Shintoists | 2,789,000 | ||||||
| Hindus | 761,689,000 | Other | 1,001,001 | ||||||
| NonReligious | 759,655,000 | Zoroastrians | 274,000 | ||||||
| Chinese Folk | 379,162,000 | Mandeans | 38,000 | ||||||
| Buddhists | 353,794,000 | ||||||||
| Ethnic | 248,565,000 | ||||||||
| Atheists | 149,913,000 | ||||||||
| New-Religionists | 100,144,000 | ||||||||
| Sikhs | 22,332,000 | ||||||||
| Denominations in the U.S. | Rank | ||||||||
| Adventist | 857,513 | Roman Catholic | 61,207,914 | ||||||
| Am. Catholic | 25,000 | Episcopal Church | 2,339,113 | Baptist | 33,064,343 | ||||
| Am Rescue Workers | 10,000 | Grace Gospel Fellowship | 60,000 | Methodist | 13,463,552 | ||||
| Apostolic | 12,538 | Hindu | 1,285,000 | Pentecostal | 9,494,449 | ||||
| Bahai Faith | 133,000 | Ind.Fun | 69,857 | Lutheran | 8,312,036 | ||||
| Baptist | 33,064,343 | Islam | 5,500,000 | Islam | 5,500,000 | ||||
| Bretheren | 379,883 | Jehovah's Witnesses | 974,719 | LDS | 5,171,623 | ||||
| Buddhist | 15,750 | Jewish Organizations | 4,750,000 | Orthodox | 5,000,000 | ||||
| (Disciples of Christ) | 879,436 | Latter-day Saints | 5,171,623 | Jewish | 4,750,000 | ||||
| Christian Congregation, Inc. | 115,881 | Lutheran Churches | 8,312,036 | Presbyterian | 3,983,923 | ||||
| Christian and Missionary Alliance | 328,078 | Mennonite | 358,000 | Ch.of Christ | 1,800,000 | ||||
| Church of Christ Scientist | 2200 Churches | Methodist | 13,463,552 | Hindu | 1,285,000 | ||||
| Church of the United Brethren in Christ | 23,585 | Pentecostal | 9,494,449 | Jehovah's Witnesses | 974,719 | ||||
| Churches of Christ | 1,800,000 | Presbyterian | 3,983,923 | (Disciples of Christ) | 879,436 | ||||
| Churches of God | 285,234 | Reformed | 2,200,000 | Adventist | 857,513 | ||||
| Church of the Nazerene | 619,576 | Roman Catholic Church | 61,207,914 | Church of the Nazerene | 619,576 | ||||
| Community Churches, Intl Council | 250,000 | Salvation Army | 453,150 | Salvation Army | 453,150 | ||||
| Congreg. Christian Chs. Nat'l Assoc. | 68,510 | Unitarian Universalist Assn. | 214,000 | Mennonite | 358,000 | ||||
| Easter Orthodox | 5,000,000 | ||||||||