# A little education on Christian groups, please. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551 "2003-04-18T14:53:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/1 "2003-04-18T14:53:04Z")
So it occurs to me that Lady Chance’s family is ‘Associate Reform Presbyterian’. This leads me to believe that at one point there were straight Presbyterians, then some thought it had gone wrong and formed a ‘reformed’ church, then some split from that and only ‘associated’ with **those** guys. Ugh. That’s a lot of subgrouping. And then it occurred to me that I really have no understanding about the differences between the Christian sects. Off the top of my head I can think of: Baptist Southern Baptist Primitive Baptist Methodist Catholic Anglican Presbyterian Latter Day Saints Anabaptists Calvinist Lutheran Pentecostal Mennonite Unitarian Quakers Adventist Apostolic Episcopal Jehovah’s Witness And I must be missing about 2000 others. So clue me in on what I missed. That list is just from churches I pass while driving around the DC area. So what’s the deal here? Can some willing (and tolerant) soul help me to understand all the different groups? Specifically, how do they differ on points of doctrine? Are they tolerant of each other? Does a pentecostalite tell an adventistite ‘It’s OK that we worship differently…we’re all going to heaven together” or do they each expect the other to burn? Also, what accounts for having so many different denominations all centered on one base religion? Did it all start with the reformation? Clearly, I’m flailing about here. I understand that basics of Christianity (birth, death, resurrection, died to redeem people) but beyond that I’m lost. Show a brother some love, will you? ---
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/2 "2003-04-18T15:29:41Z")
@1968 the Methodist combined with the United Brethren and became the United Methodists. I guess some churches didn’t go along with it. I don’t know what Free Methodists are. Does anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/3 "2003-04-18T15:50:12Z")
Well, this Brethren in Christ Guy told me and a bunch of other Anglicans a great joke about why there’ll be a big wall that we can’t see over in Heaven… That wasn’t what you asked. The only groups I know much about at all are the Reformed Presbyterians, Anglicans of different sort, Catholics, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, Mennonite, and there’s a group called the Church of the Holy Tabernacle Light Inc. up from where my husband used to work. Yeah, I would say the splitting started with the Reformation, and IMO once the _option_ to split became available, splittage started happening all over the place. I don’t know half the differences, but I’ll try with the ones I do know, and if I’m wrong, I hope someone will correct me. The Reformed Presbyterians are Calvinists, which means they believe in inability of humans to do anything pleasing to God or to turn to Him of our own free will. There are actually five points to the structure of that belief, and I’ll look for a link later. Usually they’re extremely traditional and believe in strict gender roles. They don’t sing hymns, they sing psalms. Oh, yeah- the women wear headcoverings, too. The Mennonites are a subset of the Anabaptists. The main foci of their Christian understanding is service and pacificism- they run relief and charity stuff worldwide. They’re also against infant baptism. A friend of mine is a Free Brethren member- that’s the most interesting service I’ve attended. They’re totally non-liturgical, which means there’s _no order at all_ (mind-boggling for an Anglican like me). They sit together, and then someone gets up and suggests a hymn. Another silence, and someone gets up and does a reading, etc. It’s Spirit-led worship. They’re also very traditional, with headcoverings, and the women don’t take any leadership roles. I’ll think about this, and get back to you with more. Answer: the Baptists will be on the other side. They don’t believe anyone else is getting into Heaven, and they couldn’t handle the shock. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/4 "2003-04-18T16:04:07Z")
Try Gaustad’s **A Religious History of the American People.** I covered as much of it as I could in 15 weeks when I used to teach Religion in America, but always felt like I ran out of time. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/5 "2003-04-18T16:34:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, what accounts for having so many different denominations all centered on one base religion? Did it all start with the reformation? No, there were sects described by Paul in the Epistles. And while Luther’s reformation is what you hear about in history classes, there were other “protestant” groups at that time. The Moravian Church for example, began in 1457. But they aren’t on your list. 🙂 I think religions have sects because people like to argue over rules. And most religions are all about rules. Methodists were started by a guy named John Wesley. As you might guess from the name, they were part of the 18th century movement to put “method” or science in everything. Methodists are known for non-discrimination, good hymns and the pursuit of a godly life. IIRC, Free methods split from the other Methodists because they felt that pew-tax was wrong. Therefore all their seats were “free”. And of course, they claim to be closer to the true spirit of Wesley. Quakers, or The Religious Society of Friends, was an offshoot of the Church of England. Known for their pacifism, silence, oats and equality of the sexes, Quakers are heavily involved in world-wide missions and relief programs. They differ from most of the others on your list in that they believe that your personal relationship with god is more important than outward display, this includes displays such as water baptism and bread-and-wine communion. I’d never heard of primitive Baptists, but they’ve got a long [FAQ](http://www.pb.org/pbfaq.html). ---
**Author:** ![El\_Marko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@El\_Marko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Marko)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/6 "2003-04-18T17:14:12Z")
That’s an incredibly broad question that has undoubtably been the topic of a large number of scholarly texts. You should be able to find some kind of dictionary of christian denominations at your local bookstore (or perhaps a christian bookstore). One other small detail: many christian denominations (or sects as you call them) would take great offense at the inclusion of groups like the Latter Day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah’s Witnesses and Unitarians as “Christian”. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/7 "2003-04-18T17:50:09Z")
Hey, let’s not forget our Eastern buddies, the Orthodox churches! And they split off long before the Reformation, too. You also forgot the Copts… ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/8 "2003-04-18T18:37:47Z")
I **did** think about them. But I don’t pass any of them on my commute. Call it a sample-size error! So enlighten me! ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/9 "2003-04-18T20:15:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Marko \* > \*\* One other small detail: many christian denominations (or sects as you call them) would take great offense at the inclusion of groups like the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) … as “Christian”. \*\* Probably about as upset as many Latter Day Saints would be at being excluded from that group. But that’s an issue for the pits and has been done way too many times. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/10 "2003-04-18T20:23:11Z")
Not to mention the Antioch. Reminds me of the joke, where people of each religion are put into different rooms in Heaven, only they have to be quiet when they pass Room 4. Someone finally asks St. Peter what’s up with that, and he says “Oh, that’s the room for the Catholics/Southern Baptists/Fundamentalists/Pentecostals-they think they’re the only ones here.” ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/11 "2003-04-18T20:46:39Z")
Pretty big question. I’m afraid all I can offer is a brief distinction between two you have listed: Southern Baptists like to march to the river and pour all the confiscated alcohol out into the water. Episcopalians gather a short way downstream and can be heard frolicking in the river and singing the hymn “We shall gather by the river . . .” ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/12 "2003-04-18T21:07:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Are they tolerant of each other? > \*\* This, I can answer: **NO**. 😃 The rest, wait for someone who’s deeply acquainted with Christian history and theology to show up. Just be patient. ---
**Author:** ![ouisey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@ouisey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouisey)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/13 "2003-04-18T21:17:12Z")
As a former fundamentalist baptist (General Association of Regular Baptist Churches) , I can tell you something about a lot of those groups, mainly in the context of why they’re going to hell. Southern Baptist – SBC espouses the seperation of church and state Primitive Baptist – they use real wine during communion Methodist – too liberal, they dally with ideas such as female ministers, a mythical hell, etc. Catholic – worship of the Virgin Mary/Pope/Saints Anglican – that the queen of England is their head poses problems with female leaders Presbyterian – either too liberal (women in the pulpit) or filthy Calvinists Latter Day Saints – not even Christian Anabaptists – these are ok Calvinist – doctrine of predestination will damn them Lutheran – christening children Pentecostal – speaking in tongues – obviously need exorcism Mennonite – like anabaptists, but too liberal Unitarian – again, not even Christian Quakers – treat women as equals Adventist – keep kosher, when its clearly sinful to do so Apostolic – like the pentecostals, but worse Episcopal – too liberal, some churches allow women in the pulpit Jehovah’s Witness – once again, not even Christian I was raised this way, it doesn’t mean I didn’t grow up 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/14 "2003-04-18T21:18:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by genie \* > \*\*Hey, let’s not forget our Eastern buddies, the Orthodox churches! And they split off long before the Reformation \*\* We did not split off. The west schismed away from us. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/15 "2003-04-19T16:41:37Z")
Filioque, anyone? 😃 ::d&r really fast:: ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/16 "2003-04-19T17:30:20Z")
Oh God, let’s see if I can remember this: A Baptist is a Pentecostal with shoes A Presbyterian is a Baptist with a late-model pickup truck A Methodist is a Presbyterian with wingtips An Episcopalian is a Methodist with a portfolio A Lutheran is an Episcopalian with a Summer house Can you tell I’m a Catholic? **Jonathan Chance** , where in the DC area is an Anabaptist church? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/17 "2003-04-19T19:14:35Z")
I think I passed it in rural Maryland up in Frederick County. This is more confusing than I thought. Anyone else care to break them into groups? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/18 "2003-04-19T20:55:24Z")
Lilith Fair writes: \> @1968 the Methodist combined with the United Brethren and \> became the United Methodists. Actually, in 1968 the Methodist church and the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) church combined to form the United Methodists. The EUB church had a couple of decades earlier formed from the union of the Evangelical and the United Brethren churches. A couple of decades before that, the United Brethren church formed from the combination of two Brethren churches (the exact names of which I don’t recall), healing a split that happened just before the Civil War when they broke into a northern and a southern church. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/19 "2003-04-20T00:41:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pablito \* > \*\*Pretty big question. I’m afraid all I can offer is a brief distinction between two you have listed: > > Southern Baptists like to march to the river and pour all the confiscated alcohol out into the water. > > Episcopalians gather a short way downstream and can be heard frolicking in the river and singing the hymn “We shall gather by the river . . .” \*\* Don’t you mean the Irish Catholics? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551/20 "2003-04-20T03:03:28Z")
According to either Time or Life or Newsweek ( it’s one of those three, I’m positive) from about 6 years ago, they had an excellent article about Christianity and how there are over 25,000 versions of this religion. That thought always intrigued me. One man that so many beleive in, yet not five people can agree on the right way to celebrate the goodness of his life or teachings. It’s so comical it hurts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-education-on-christian-groups-please/169551.md?page=2)