Christianity is the most followed religion in the world, and it is no different in the United States of America. 70.6% of American adults identify themselves as Christians. They are divided among more than 35 Christian denominations.
According to the “American Religious Identification Survey” conducted in 2001 by the University of New York, this is the list of the ten largest Christian denominations in America.
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Catholic
With a staggering membership size of 50,873,000, the Catholics are the largest denomination in America. Catholics are conducted by ‘The Roman Catholic Church’ which is headed by the Pope, currently held by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
The Roman Catholic Church believes that the Jesus Christ himself founded it.
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Baptist
The Baptist compromises of one of the most diverse and largest groupings of Christians in the United States. Baptists are bound together by an amazingly strong allegiance to certain principles and doctrines based on the competency of each in the matters of faith.
While their ideas may differ but Baptist agree on the principles which are as follows
A) the inspiration and integrity of the Bible as the sole rule of life.
B) the lordship of Jesus Christ
C) freedom to a person to approach God for themselves
D) the granting of salvation by the way of grace and contact with the Holy SpiritThey have a membership size of 33,830,000 people.
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Christian – no denomination supplied
The people who believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ are known as Christians. They compromise of 14,190,000 followers in the States.
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Methodist / Wesleyan
With a vast followership of 14,150,000 members, the Methodist reflects critically on their biblical and theological inheritance to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ.
Two considerations are central to their endeavor: the sources from which they derive their theological affirmations and the criteria by which they assess the adequacy of their understanding and witness.
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Lutheran
Lutheranism owns much of their tradition to the ancient and medieval church. It includes a sense of participation in the historical people of God and the traditional liturgy. Lutherans are devoted to an incredible doctrine systematically developed and expressed in thepreaching of the divine.
Lutherans’ faith does not lie with the church but their utter trust in Christ. According to Lutherans, the Bible is inspired by the word given by the God and the standard of faith and practice. They boast a followership of 9,580,000 people.
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Presbyterian
Presbyterians can trace their history from the sixteenth century ‘Protestant Reformation’. Their heritage began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings formed the Reformed thinking.
Presbyterians differ from the other denominations in two significant ways: first, they follow a pattern of religious thought which is called the Reformed theology, and secondly they adhere to a form of government that motivates the leadership of both ministers and church members. They constitute of 5,596,000 followers.
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Protestant
Protestantism belongs to one of the three primary branches of Christianity. The term ‘Protestant’ refers to a diverse range of theological and social perspectives along with denominations as well as related organizations.
Protestants do not belong to any definite set of Christianity and have their roots in the Protestant reform that took place in Europe in the 16th century.
They have a membership size of 4,647,000. -
Pentecostal
Pentecostalism is one of the modern American Christian Movement that made its way out of the Holiness movement at the turn of the 20th century.
Most of the ‘Pentecostal’ churches are theologically and socially conservative. Pentecostals have a belief in the evangelical tradition, and they teach that the Holy Spirit continues to act in the same way as it did at the time of the first Pentecost. They also believe that contemporary Christians can also receive the spiritual gifts that the apostles did! They also have a large followership base of 4,407,000 Americans.
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Episcopalian/Anglican
The Episcopal Church traces its origin the Anglican Church a.k.a. The Church of England, which break off its allegiance to the papacy during the Protestant Reformation.
There are two mysteries; Baptism and the Eucharist, which are recognized by the Episcopal The church even knows a religious character in confirmation, confession, marriage and the anointing of the sick. A population of 3,451,000 believes in this denomination.
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Mormon / Latter-Day Saints
They have a membership size of 2,787,000 people. They believe that God is their heavenly father. He loves them and wants them to return to him. Among their many believes some are that the Jesus Christ is the son of God and their Savior and through the satisfaction of Jesus they can return to live with God if they keep his commandments.