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A '''denomination''', in the [[Christian]] sense of the word, is an identifiable religious body of grouping under a common name, structure, and/or doctrine, drawn from the three major divisions of Churches: [[Roman Catholic]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], and [[Protestantism|Protestant]].  

A '''denomination''', in the [[Christian]] sense of the word, is an identifiable religious body or grouping under a common name, structure, and/or doctrine drawn from the three major divisions of Churches: [[Roman Catholic]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], and [[Protestantism|Protestant]].  

The term may be applied in particular to [[Protestantism|Protestant]] church bodies or groupings. Notable among these are: [[Anglican Communion|Anglican]], [[Methodist]], [[Congregationalism|Congregational]], [[Baptist]], [[Lutheran]], the [[Anabaptist]] tradition (made up of the [[Amish]], [[Hutterites]], and [[Mennonites]]), [[Pentecostal]], [[Charismatic Christianity]] and United and Uniting churches.  It is also common today for many churches to classify themselves as non-denominational.  The degree to which denominations differ and their acceptance within general Christianity varies widely.

The term may be applied in particular to [[Protestantism|Protestant]] church bodies or groupings. Notable among these are: [[Anglican Communion|Anglican]], [[Methodist]], [[Reformed]] and [[Presbyterian]], [[Congregationalism|Congregational]], [[Baptist]], [[Lutheran]], [[Anabaptist]] (made up of the [[Amish]], [[Hutterites]], and [[Mennonites]]), [[Pentecostal]] and [[Charismatic]], and United and Uniting churches.  It is also common today for churches to classify themselves as non-denominational.  The degree to which denominations differ and their acceptance within Christianity varies widely.

[[Denominationalism]] is an ideology which views some or all Christian groups as being, in some sense, versions of the same thing regardless of their distinguishing labels. Not all churches teach this; for instance, the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches do not use this term as its implication of interchangeability does not agree with their theological teachings.  

To speak of [[Denominationalism]] may presume that some or all Christian groups are, in some sense, versions of the same basic thing regardless of their distinguishing labels. Not all churches agree to this; for instance, the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches which do not include themselves under this term as its implication of interchangeability does not agree with their theological teachings.  

There are some groups which practically all others would view as [[apostate]] or [[heretical]], and not legitimate versions of Christianity.

There are some groups which practically all others would view as [[apostate]] and therefore not legitimate versions of Christianity. Others may be seen as [[heretical], even by some churches of their own denomination. To be a heretic means only that one holds an erroneous doctrine of importance, not that one has renounced the Christian faith.

[[Category:Christian Terms]]

[[Category:Christian Terms]]