Popular denominations and when the splitting occurred: Christianity versus Islam

[Boojatta]

Right now, the major denominations of Christianity seem to be Catholicism and Protestantism. Protestantism developed long after the Catholic Church was first established.

When did the major denominations of Islam first appear in relation to the death of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)?

Might there be a denomination of Islam that doesn't exist now, but that will exist in the future and that will constitute a significant percentage of all Muslims?

What explains why the splits occurred when they did?

[cynatnite]

1. Here is a start...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divisions_of_Islam

Hope this helps

[pingzing58]

2. We've learned much about Islam since the war. Sunni and Shiites formed after the death of the

Prophet but there are also minor sects, the principal of which are the Aliites, or Fatimites, the Asharians, Azaragites, Babakites, Babbis, Idrisites, Ismailians and Assassins, Jabrians, Kaissanites, Karmathians, Kharjites, followers of the Mahdi, Mu'tazilites, Qadrains, Safrians, Sifatians, Sufis, Wahabis, and Zaidites. The distinctive features of these various sects are political as well as religious; only three or four of them now possess any influence. In spite of these divisions, however, the principal articles of faith and morality, and the ritual, are substantially uniform. Any Moslems here might be able to help with this question. Thanks.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Protestantism is not a denomination, it is a movement.

For the first thousand years of Christianity, there was just The Church - the Catholic Church. Then The Church split into two parts: Catholicism and Orthodoxy in about the year 1100 (I'm a little Martini hazy on the exact date and don't feel like looking it up).

Orthodoxy then split into Russian, Greek, Orthodox, and a handful of others.

In 1517, Luther nailed his theses to the door and began the Protestant Reformation, which was supposed to be a reformation of the Catholic Church, of which Luther was a priest. The reformation didn't happen, and so the Protestant movement began to split off from the Catholic Church into Calvinism and Lutheranism, and then eventually into the hundreds we have now.

Catholicism is not a denomination, either - it is just Catholicism.


As to the Sunni/Shiite split in Islam, that happened within a couple years of Mohammed's death. THe Islamic shift was about who had the proper authority to carry on Mohammed's tradition: Shi'ites believing only a descendant of Mohammed could be the true leader, and the Sunnis believing that any worthy person could do so. Sunni means "Followers of the prophet", and Shi'ite comes from Shiat-Ali, "Followers of Ali", Ali being the son-in-law of Mohammed.



And yes, there could very well be a denomination or sect of Islam that is not here today. Many Muslims today do not categorize themselves as either Sunni or Shi'ite, but just as "Muslim". Just as there are quite a few Christians who are non-denominational who consider themselves simply Christian.



Some Christian splits have been over power - or, in a sense, all splits are due to power in some ultimate sense - but other splits have been due to theological differences over Communion, Baptism, ecclesialogy, polity, and so forth.

[Boojatta]

4. "For the first thousand years of Christianity, there was just The Church - the Catholic Church."

Are you deliberately omitting denominations that are now small (because I specified "popular" in the title of the thread)? For example, were the Coptic Christians in Egypt part of the Catholic Church?

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Obviously in a few hundred words I cannot give a precise and perfect treatise on church history.

Yes, of course, obviously, there have always have been splinter groups, sub groups, and outside groups in Christianity, ever since the very beginning. That's the reason for some of the creeds, esp. the Nicene creed.

I'm sorry - I should have included the caveat that a mere 200 or so words does not an all-encompassing magnum opus make. You asked a rather general question, I gave you a rather general answer.

[Beregond2]

5. Denominations

Very well summarized. I would also add that the splits in Christianity were largely over where spiritual authority resides. The Catholic church took the position that it resides in tradition and scripture, as interpreted by the Pope. The Orthodox that it resides in tradition and scripture, as interpreted by the Church Councils. The Protestants, that it resides in scripture, period. The various splits between Protestants were basically over the issue of who gets to interpret scripture, and what the correct interpretations were. Given that scripture can be interpreted just about any way imaginable, this has led to the endless denominations you see today.

My denomination, the Episcopal/Anglican church, sees scriptural authority as resting on three supports: scripture, tradition, and reason, as interpreted by the church as a community. As this leads to a very lengthy process of doctrinal development, an ongoing evolution, it can sometimes seem like the church is always in conflict over one issue or another. There are also no very clear benchmarks for how and when an issue has been "decided," so you get situations like the current mess over gay ordination and recognition of same-sex committed relationships. It can be frustrating as hell, and I have sometimes asked: "DOES THIS CHURCH ACTUALLY STAND FOR ANYTHING?" But a love of the same kind of worship, and a desire to hold the communion together somehow keeps it functioning.

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. And some denominations, such as mine (the UCC, and also Methodists) use a four-leg method

of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience.

And yes, as I said above, some of the splitting has involved issues of ecclesiology. And while we in the UCC also suffer sometimes from the Episcopal (and Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc.) problems of wondering "Do we really stand for anything?", I'd rather have that than the Catholic version, which, while officially standing for something, does so utterly without regard for the laity or anyone who isn't the Pope. So, it's frustrating - but at least it means WE are actually thinking about stuff and debating and being on the faith journey together, instead of leaving up to a Pope (or, in the Jesus Crispy rightwing Evangelical traditional, the pastor) to tell us what to believe.

I'm too much indoctrinated into Protestant - and especially Congregational and UCC - thought to think that a Pope (or any doctrine at all) is a good idea. :7

[JerseygirlCT]

9. Add the Anglicans to that Calvinism/Lutheranism list...

Another attempt at "reformed Catholicism". In fact, that's still really how many Anglicans think of themselves. The joke here is often "Catholic lite".

[Realityhack]

8. Boojata...

Right now, the major denominations of Christianity seem to be Catholicism and Protestantism. Protestantism developed long after the Catholic Church was first established.

Ok

When did the major denominations of Islam first appear in relation to the death of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)?

Here's a novel idea. How about if you LOOK IT THE FUCK UP instead of insisting everyone else does it for you.

Might there be a denomination of Islam that doesn't exist now, but that will exist in the future and that will constitute a significant percentage of all Muslims?

Yes. wait... you seriously have to ask, or this is one of your silly bait questions?

What explains why the splits occurred when they did?

I assume you mean the ones in Islam. See... look it the fuck up.

[Bad Thoughts]

10. Peter/Paul?

Couldn't that be interpreted as an early split, just not one that was entrenched in political strife and empire building?

Let me add that Protestantism's rise seems to have come at an opportune time: when the technology was available to disperse a complex ideology and demand discipline thereto, and the technology of violence was being perfected by the state.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. Totally incorrect. The major division is Eastern and Western, with subdivisions

There are two major divisions in Christianity: Eastern and Western.

Eastern Christianity is defined by a large body of common doctrine and ritual collectively referred to as Orthodoxy. It is subdivided based on traditional areas of jurisdiction and culture, thus the Greek Orthodox, the Russian Orthodox, the Armenian Orthodox and, most recently, the American Orthodox.

Western Christianity is divided into the Roman Catholic Church and Protestantism. Protestantism has at its base the theology that the individual believer can read Scripture and learn about God by himself, which in turn has given rise to thousands of different interpretations. When a group of people come together to share the same beliefs, a Protestant denomination is formed.

In addition, there are many other groups, from ancient (the Syrian Orthodox) to modern based on ancient doctrines (the Gnostics) to very modern (the Unitarian Universalist Association) which do not fit neatly into the division of Eastern and Western.