The Christian Denominations: a simplified breakdown of the differences and beliefs

Art by Afreen Mann Majumdar

Disclaimer: Although I do belong to a particular denomination, this article is purely informational and unbiased. Also, note that this article is very simplified. Not every denomination, or every single fact about each denomination is included. Finally, this article is very long, and meant to be read in intervals or skipped through if you want to learn about a specific denomination.

According to a recent estimate by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (or the CSGC) along with current Pew demographic reports, the number of Christians in 2025 is estimated to be a staggering 2.6 billion people globally. This is nearly 30% of the global population, as well as 62% of the U.S. population. With so many Christians floating around, it's understandable why there is so much division. 

To put it simply, nearly every religion is broken up into separate groups that have slightly differing views on certain aspects of the particular faith, but still believe in the core beliefs. These are called religious denominations, and within these denominations (particularly with Christianity) there are churches/groups that make up the denomination. These groups differ on even smaller aspects of the religion, the political spectrum or just simply geography. For example within Christianity, there is a denomination known as the Methodists, and within them are two groups known as the United Methodist Church and Free Methodist Church; they are not the same church/group but rather apart of the same denomination (in this case, the differences between the two are more political, with the UMC being more liberal and the FMC being more conservative). 

In this article, we will discover the differences and beliefs of each denomination. The denominations covered will be split into three categories, the first of which I have dubbed “The Original Three:” this includes the Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox churches. These three churches are not only some of the oldest denominations, but they are some of the most prevalent in everyday life other than the Protestant churches. 

Speaking of which, the Protestants are the second category. This category will include all of the major Protestant denominations, from the churches that spawned way back during the Reformation to the newest groups that slowly gained traction. 

All of the churches up to this point agree on the following essentials of Christianity; the belief in the holy trinity, to baptize in the name of the holy trinity, the participation in communion, that Jesus Christ is both truly man as well as God, that he was born of the Virgin Mary, that he died for our sins, that he rose from the dead, that he ascended into heaven and will return again. However,churches in the third and final category are either on the fence on the essentials, or they clearly do not believe the essentials. With all that being said, let’s begin.

“The Original Three”

As mentioned previously, The Original Three consist of the Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox. They aren’t the oldest denominations, but they are the oldest denominations that will be mentioned in this article (the Oriental Orthodox being formed in 451 C.E). Unlike the Protestants, they think that the Bible was assembled by the church, therefore the church has more authority than the Bible. Finally, they all individually claim to be founded by Jesus and the twelve apostles.

Photo Credit: Catholic TV Network (“What is the Catholic Mass?”)

Catholics

The Catholics are the largest Christian denomination, with over a billion members worldwide. Like the other members of the “Original Three,” Catholics claim to trace their origins to the apostolic foundations of the original church. They particularly value the role of the Apostle Peter, who is considered by Catholics to be the first pope, and every other pope has followed in an unbroken chain up until the current Pope. 

Catholicism has maintained its position as a major religious force, particularly in Western Europe, Latin America, and parts of Africa and Asia. The central theological distinction of Catholicism is its belief in the authority of the Pope, and the Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church), which Catholics believe guides the faithful in all matters of faith and morals. The Catholic Church is also known for its emphasis on social justice, charity, and the promotion of human dignity, which are seen as expressions of the love of Christ in the world. For Catholics, authority is extremely important; they believe that the church has the authority to forgive sins, cast out demons, and interpret what the scriptures mean. Also, Catholics think that the kingdom of God on Earth is the church itself, and salvation requires participation in the church (not by faith alone, which is what most Protestants believe). During communion, they believe you are literally eating the body and blood of Christ in a process called transubstantiation. 

Oriental Orthodox

The Oriental Orthodox churches represent a group of Christian denominations that split from the broader Christian community following the Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE. This council was convened to resolve the theological debate about the nature of Christ, and this where they differ. Most denominations accepted the council's conclusion defining Christ as having two distinct natures, one divine and one human. This is a doctrine known as Dyophysitism. However, the Oriental Orthodox churches rejected this definition, saying instead that Christ's nature is Miaphysite, one united divine and human nature. 

This rejection of Chalcedonian Christology became the defining issue that separated the Oriental Orthodox from both Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Despite the theological division, the Oriental Orthodox churches maintain strong ties to ancient Christian traditions, emphasizing asceticism, monastic life, and the importance of icons and saints. They also participate in many Jewish practices such as circumcision, and not eating pork. 

Oriental Orthodox individuals are much more internally diverse than the Eastern Orthodox. The biggest of these churches include the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Ethiopian Tewahendo Orthodox Church. Speaking of which, the Ethiopian Church, actually doesn't have the same Bible Canon as the rest of most other denominations. The Ethiopian Bible has a total of 81 books, making by far the largest Bible out in Christendom. Finally, out of all the denominations, the Oriental Orthodox are the most historically repressed by a significant margin. This is because they've been “islands” in a “sea” of historically Muslim communities.

Photo Credit: Theos Think Tank (Putin and the Orthodox Church: how his faith shapes his politics)

Eastern Orthodox Church

Sometimes simply referred to as the Orthodox Church, the Eastern Orthodox represent one of the largest branches of Christianity, with an estimated 200 million adherents worldwide. It traces its origins to the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium), and maintains a distinct theological and liturgical tradition that developed over centuries. 

The Eastern Orthodox Church is distinguished by The Great Schism of 1054, which resulted in the split between the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches. Theological disagreements, particularly regarding papal supremacy and the filioque clause (the inclusion of “and the Son” in the Nicene Creed), were central to this division. Eastern Orthodoxy also distinguishes itself by its rich tradition of mysticism and asceticism, fostering a deep spiritual life that emphasizes the pursuit of holiness through communion with God. As mentioned earlier, the Eastern Orthodox are very mystical in their beliefs, they try to define God from what he isn’t and they say that we can’t really understand what God is but rather can only preserve his energy. 

The Protestants

In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation initiated by figures such as Martin Luther and John Calvin led to a dramatic shift in Christian history. The Reformation was driven by a desire to return to what reformers perceived as a more faithful expression of Christianity, often challenging the authority of the Catholic Church and emphasizing salvation through faith alone (sola fide), and the authority of Scripture alone (sola scriptura). Protestantism, thus, became a significant and diverse movement, giving birth to numerous denominations with varying beliefs and practices. The one thing they all agree upon, however, is that the Bible has more authority than the church. Because the Protestants still share some common beliefs, the explanations will be shorter. 

Baptists and Non-Denominationals 

Many Non-Denominational Christians share the beliefs of Baptists. Most common in the Southern U.S., Baptists emphasize personal choice in baptism, rejecting infant baptism as they don’t consider it a requirement for Christianity (hence their name). Most churches say baptism is what makes you Christian; however, Baptists think that being baptized is how you proclaim you’re Christian. They prioritize individual relationships with Jesus over church rituals, leading to the concept of the low church. Independent or non-denominational Baptist churches hold near identical beliefs.

Photo Credit: Britannica (Anglican Communion)

Anglicans/Episcopalians

Speaking of low churches, Anglicans are actually considered high churches. Anglicans strive for a balance of tradition, reason, and scripture, embodying diversity in belief through their nature of being very eclectic. Some Anglicans are very Catholic (Anglo-Catholicism), and others are more Protestant and contemporary (Reformed Protestants). Because of this, it’s really difficult to grasp what Anglicans actually believe, because they more or less just take the best aspects of other churches and Frankenstein them together into what they believe.

Methodists

One major denomination that sprung out of the Anglicans were the Methodists. The Methodist tradition adds on to the Anglican desire for balance in tradition. Additionally, they emphasize personal spiritual experience similarly to the Baptists. The reason they broke away from the Anglicans is because John Wesley (their founder), wanted to be more spiritually active (this is depicted by fire in many Methodist logos). On their journeys to “entire sanctification,” Methodists partake in a lot of community services.

Photo Credit: Getty Images and Dr. Dwight Longnecker (Ten reasons why Pentecostals are whopping Catholics)

Pentecostals

Pentecostals take their name from the event of Pentecost in the New Testament, when the Holy Spirit filled the apostles in Acts 2. They are known for their emphasis on direct experiences with the Holy Spirit, especially through speaking in tongues, divine healing, and prophecy. This makes them one of the most expressive and emotionally driven Christian groups. Worship in Pentecostal churches is often lively, with prayer, music, and spontaneous testimonies central to their gatherings. Like Baptists, most Pentecostals believe in the believer’s baptism rather than infant baptism. Pentecostalism has grown explosively over the last century and is especially strong in Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia. Unlike older denominations that stress hierarchy, Pentecostal churches can be very decentralized, with independent congregations spreading rapidly thanks to their appeal to ordinary people’s spiritual experiences.

Lutherans

Lutheranism emerged directly from the Protestant Reformation and was founded by Martin Luther in the early 1500s. Lutherans were the first to fully break away from the Catholic Church, laying much of the groundwork for Protestantism. The central teaching of Lutherans is salvation by grace through faith alone, not works like church rituals, or indulgences. They also emphasize the distinction between “law” (what God commands of mankind) and “gospel” (the good news of forgiveness through Christ). Unlike more symbolic Protestant churches, Lutherans still hold a high view of baptism and communion, teaching that Christ is truly present in the Lord’s Supper (though not in the same way as Catholic transubstantiation). They continue to value liturgical worship, music (especially hymns), and creeds, while still remaining firmly Protestant.

Photo credit: Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church (Welcome Page)

Presbyterians (Reformed)

Presbyterian and other Reformed churches trace their origins to John Calvin and other Reformation leaders in Switzerland and Scotland. Their most distinctive teaching is on the sovereignty of God, meaning that God ultimately controls all aspects of life, including salvation. This leads many Presbyterians to believe in predestination: the idea that God chose in advance who would be saved (AKA Calvinism). Worship is typically orderly, with an emphasis on preaching and structured liturgy. Governance is also unique, as Presbyterians are led not by bishops or individuals but by councils of “elders” (from the Greek presbyteros). Reformed churches worldwide are often very interested in theology, producing rich traditions of study, confessions, and catechisms. In fact, their outlook tends to be sober, intellectual, and focused on glorifying God in all areas of life.

“Miscellaneous Denominations"

Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, often called the Mormon Church, was founded in the 1800s by Joseph Smith in the United States. Mormons have scriptures that go beyond the Bible, most famously the Book of Mormon, which they believe to be another testament of Jesus Christ. The biggest doctrinal difference between Mormons and most other Christians is their belief in the Godhead as three separate beings: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, working in unity but not one essence (contrary to the Trinity and similarly to the Oriental Orthodox). 

Mormons also believe that humans can progress to become like God, and that the restored church is the true church on Earth under the leadership of living prophets. Culturally, the LDS church is well-known for strong community life, missionary work, and family values, especially in Utah and other areas of the western United States. However, Mormons are definitely the most un-orthodox and different of the denominations discussed in this article, and some theologians don’t even consider them a Christian denomination at all. So if you want to know more about them, I highly suggest doing some research of your own (I could absolutely make a full article talking about Mormon practices alone).

Photo Credit: JW.org (What do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe?)

Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Jehovah’s Witnesses formed in the late 1800s under the leadership of Charles Taze Russell. They use their own translation of the Bible, the New World Translation, and reject the doctrine of the Trinity, teaching instead that Jehovah (the Father) is the one true God, Jesus is His first creation (not equal to Him), and the Holy Spirit is God’s active force rather than a person. This makes their theology quite different from most Christian denominations. Jehovah’s Witnesses are also recognizable for their door-to-door evangelism, and distribution of Bible-based literature such as The Watchtower. They avoid many mainstream practices, such as celebrating birthdays or holidays, serving in the military, or pledging allegiance to flags, because they see those things as incompatible with loyalty to God’s kingdom.

Quakers (Religious Society of Friends)

Quakers originated in 17th-century England under the leadership of George Fox. They emphasize the “inner light,” believing that every person can experience God’s presence directly without priests, sacraments, or rigid rituals. This leads many Quaker services to be conducted in silence, worshippers sit quietly until someone feels led by the Spirit to speak. Early Quakers were known for their strong pacifism, refusal to take oaths, and commitment to social justice, values that many Quakers still hold today. While some Quaker groups remain distinctly Christian, others have become more liberal and open to diverse spiritual interpretations, meaning that modern Quakerism can look very different depending on the group. Despite all of this, most people in the U.S. hear the name Quaker and think of Quaker Oats.

Seventh-day Adventists

Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) developed in the 19th century during a wave of revivalist movements in America. They are best known for observing Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as the Sabbath, in contrast to most Christians who worship on Sunday. Adventists strongly emphasize the Second Coming (“Advent”) of Jesus, teaching that it could happen very soon and that Christians should live in readiness. They also place high importance on healthy living, advocating vegetarian diets and discouraging alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. Like the Protestants, Adventists believe in salvation by grace through faith, but they also often highlight the importance of obedience and holy living. Their founder Ellen G. White is regarded by Adventists as a prophet who gave inspired guidance.

Christianity’s vast diversity in belief and practice is a testament to its rich history and the varying ways in which individuals and communities have understood the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Original Three of Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Oriental Orthodoxy represent the ancient roots of the faith, with each maintaining distinctive theological and liturgical traditions. The Protestant Reformation further fragmented Christianity, giving rise to a myriad of denominations that emphasize personal faith and the authority of Scripture. Finally, Miscellaneous Christian churches represent this vast religion in the 21st century .