Friday, December 31, 2021

Process Theology and the Many Creeds of the Christian Church - Part 5


 

Process Theology and the Many Creeds
of the Christian Church
PART 5

by R.E. Slater


The Top 13 Christian Creeds: Origins, Contents, & Importance


Theology by Paige Deane


If someone asked you, “what do Christians believe?” how would you respond? If you are drawing a blank right now, you may want to consider writing or learning a creed.

What is a Christian creed?

"A Christian creed is a series of defining statements that express the core beliefs of Christians. They are the objective truths that all Christians believe. Originally, new Christians would study to develop their own creed based on what they had learned about their new faith. However, over time, several specific creeds came to prominence and were used by many people as a confession of faith prior to being baptized. Today, these creeds remain as declarations of faith for Christians around the world."

Of the many creeds that have been written over the years, thirteen have risen above the rest to become anthems of the Christian faith, and in this post, we will discover what sets these apart from the rest.


1. The Apostles Creed

Despite its name, the Apostles Creed was not written by the apostles as many people once thought. It was once believed that each apostle contributed a line to this creed, however, this has since been proved a myth, and there is, in fact, no evidence to suggest it was written by the apostles at all.

In reality, this creed is a variant of the Old Roman Creed, an ancient baptismal confession that existed long before the Apostles Creed was developed.

Since its creation, it has become one of the most dominant Christian Creeds and is used in a variety of baptismal rites and Reformation catechisms (a summary of doctrine used to teach) to describe the core tenets of Christianity.

Like other Christian Creeds, the Apostles Creed serves to affirm the core tenets of the Christian faith, God the creator, Jesus his Son, born to a virgin and later crucified, then resurrected to join his Father and ready to bring judgment, the Holy Spirit, the church, communion, forgiveness, resurrection, and everlasting life. All these are communicated through this creed.


I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
[he descended to the dead.]


On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

- The Apostles Creed


Despite its position as one of the most prominent Christian Creeds, there remains some confusion and controversy over two of its lines.

It is important to note that in line 14 “catholic” refers, not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the Church as a whole, a more general term than the context to which it is normally applied today. As a result, some elect to say “the holy Christian Church” to eliminate confusion.

Another line that remains controversial is line 8, “he descended to the dead.” This line is often backed up with 1 Peter 3:19, however, this requires a lot of assumptions to be made about the text. As a result, many elect to simply omit the line entirely instead of trying to justify it with assumptions.


2. The Nicene Creed

Unlike the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed was developed in response to several heresies that were gaining traction at the time, particularly Arianism. This heresy favored the depiction of God’s unity over his existence as part of the Trinity.

They claimed that because God was so unique, that Jesus could not have existed self-sufficiently and therefore Jesus was created by God.

The Nicene Creed was developed to combat this heresy by emphasizing the elements of the trinity, and Jesus’ status as part of the Godhead.

Various alterations have been made to the creed since its creation in A.D. 325 such as the addition of what has become known as the “Filioque” (noted in brackets).

This phrase adds further emphasis to the concept of the Trinity and one of the last notable alterations added in A.D. 589.


We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made;
of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried.
The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory
to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.

- The Nicene Creed


The Nicene Creed provided an important distinction for the people of its time that has lasted through the years.

By emphasizing the status of each member of the Trinity as part of the Godhead it set itself apart from the prominent heresies of the time.

Creeds have a way of making people choose. Choose whether they believe what they are saying or not.

The creation of this creed and others like it created a choice, eliminating the middle ground, and helping people to distinguish between all the differing interpretations at the time.




3. The Athanasian Creed

The Athanasian Creed was birthed out of the same heresies that birthed the Nicene Creed, namely the heresy of Arianism. Although he didn’t write it, the Creed was named after Athanasius who lived from A.D. 293-373.

Athanasius was known for his commitment to Christian Orthodoxy and the doctrine of the Trinity despite the Arian ideas that were being perpetuated.

As a result of these circumstances, both the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds were born. And like the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed strives to emphasize the nature of the Trinity.

The first half is devoted to this subject, while the second half is devoted to the two part nature of Jesus.

This creed was designed to explain clearly the doctrine of these interconnected during a time when heresy was perpetuating confusion on the subject.

It should also be noted that, similar to the Apostles Creed, the word “catholic” is not referring to the Roman Catholic Church. Rather, it refers to Christianity as a whole. It is a general term that encompasses Christianity, Christians, and the Christian Church.


Whoever desires to be saved should above all hold to the catholic faith.

Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken will doubtless perish eternally.

Now this is the catholic faith:

That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity,
neither blending their persons
nor dividing their essence.
For the person of the Father is a distinct person,
the person of the Son is another,
and that of the Holy Spirit still another.
But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one,
their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.

What quality the Father has, the Son has, and the Holy Spirit has.
The Father is uncreated,
the Son is uncreated,
the Holy Spirit is uncreated.

The Father is immeasurable,
the Son is immeasurable,
the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.

The Father is eternal,
the Son is eternal,
the Holy Spirit is eternal.

And yet there are not three eternal beings;
there is but one eternal being.
So too there are not three uncreated or immeasurable beings;
there is but one uncreated and immeasurable being.

Similarly, the Father is almighty,
the Son is almighty,
the Holy Spirit is almighty.
Yet there are not three almighty beings;
there is but one almighty being.

Thus the Father is God,
the Son is God,
the Holy Spirit is God.
Yet there are not three gods;
there is but one God.

Thus the Father is Lord,
the Son is Lord,
the Holy Spirit is Lord.
Yet there are not three lords;
there is but one Lord.

Just as Christian truth compels us
to confess each person individually
as both God and Lord,
so catholic religion forbids us
to say that there are three gods or lords.

The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten from anyone.
The Son was neither made nor created;
he was begotten from the Father alone.
The Holy Spirit was neither made nor created nor begotten;
he proceeds from the Father and the Son.

Accordingly there is one Father, not three fathers;
there is one Son, not three sons;
there is one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.

Nothing in this trinity is before or after,
nothing is greater or smaller;
in their entirety the three persons
are coeternal and coequal with each other.

So in everything, as was said earlier,
we must worship their trinity in their unity
and their unity in their trinity.

Anyone then who desires to be saved
should think thus about the trinity.

But it is necessary for eternal salvation
that one also believe in the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully.

Now this is the true faith:

That we believe and confess
that our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son,
is both God and human, equally.

He is God from the essence of the Father,
begotten before time;
and he is human from the essence of his mother,
born in time;
completely God, completely human,
with a rational soul and human flesh;
equal to the Father as regards divinity,
less than the Father as regards humanity.

Although he is God and human,
yet Christ is not two, but one.
He is one, however,
not by his divinity being turned into flesh,
but by God’s taking humanity to himself.
He is one,
certainly not by the blending of his essence,
but by the unity of his person.
For just as one human is both rational soul and flesh,
so too the one Christ is both God and human.

He suffered for our salvation;
he descended to hell;
he arose from the dead;
he ascended to heaven;
he is seated at the Father’s right hand;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
At his coming all people will arise bodily
and give an accounting of their own deeds.
Those who have done good will enter eternal life,
and those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.

This is the catholic faith:
one cannot be saved without believing it firmly and faithfully.

- The Athanasian Creed


The Athanasian Creed was incredibly valuable to the people of that time. It went deeper than the Nicene Creed and truly outlined what Christians believe, emphasizing the doctrine of the Trinity, and the nature of Jesus Christ.

It provided an outline of core beliefs for people in a time when heresy was running rampant and allowing confusion to lead believers astray.


4. The Chalcedonian Definition

The Chalcedonian Definition was developed in response to the same events as the Nicene and Athanasian creeds, however, its focus is most similar to the second half of the Athanasian Creed which basically addresses the same problem from a different angle.

Essentially, this creed attacks the second half of the problem. The Arians believed that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were not equal with God as part of the Trinity. The Nicene Creed and the first half of the Athanasian Creed confirm that they are all equally apart of the Godhead and the Trinity.

However, the Chalcedonian Definition and the second half of the Athanasian Creed confront the other side of the problem – the dual nature of Christ.

This creed’s primary goal is to assert that Jesus was one being with two natures, the nature of man, and the nature of God. This is what allowed him to be God, yet present himself on earth as a man.


We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God

and truly man, of a reasonable soul and body; consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin;

begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union,

but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten,

God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning have declared concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.

- The Chalcedonian Creed

 

Just like the Athanasian and Nicene creeds, the Chalcedonian Definition helped believers to make a choice. It outlined the natures of Christ in a way that they could understand and helped believers, when they had made their choice, to stand by it by giving them something concrete to stand by.




5. Didache

The Didache, or “The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,” is a document that originated in the early church and has a creed-like nature describing fundamental components and instructions for Christians.

The document appears to be compiled of several sources and edited over time, however, there is no real consensus regarding the date the document was compiled.

This document was an important resource for early Christians both as a creed of what they believed, and also as a set of instructions for various religious practices such as baptism and fasting.

The document is arranged into four parts, each with a different topic and purpose that contributed to the whole.

The first part provides instructions on morality for new Christians as they were learning about their new faith in preparation to be baptized. It outlined the contrasting “way of life” and the “way of death,” such as was also contrasted in the Bible.

The second part outlines more ritual instructions. This included things like fasting, communion, and baptism as a sort of introductory manual for liturgical practices and spiritual disciplines.

The third part then serves as instructions for religious leaders, followed by the fourth and final part which focuses on beliefs about the end times.

Ultimately this document served as sort of introductory crash course on Christianity for new believers in the early church. It familiarized them with the fundamental beliefs of Christians as well as common practices like fasting.

Despite its age, it is valuable to us today as well, for while expressions of Christianity have changed over time, its core values have remained the same, allowing documents like these to last through the ages.


6. The Baptismal Creed of Jerusalem

The Baptismal Creed of Jerusalem was a sort of precursor to many other creeds that would follow and is also considered the template for most baptismal confessions. It has been used for centuries as an abbreviated creed confessed before baptism and its basic formula is still utilized today.

This creed was developed as a result of the same heresies that brought about the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, and most strongly resembles the opener of the Apostles Creed.

I believe in the Father, and in the Son, and in the Holy Ghost, and in one baptism of repentance.

- The Baptismal Creed of Jerusalem

This is perhaps even more commonplace today than the Apostles Creed, although many don’t realize that this is what they are hearing. This creed has truly stood the test of time and has become the heart cry of Christians worldwide, which we celebrate during baptism.


7. The Westminster Confession of Faith

The Westminster Confession of Faith came about due to conflict in the Church of England. At the time, they were hoping to unify everyone under the English Protestant Church. This included Scotland which was largely Presbyterian at the time.

This document was intended to lay out a baseline for Christianity in England that would unify the church. It detailed what they believed about a variety of topics, most notably their view on Scripture and their affirmation of Calvin’s view of predestination among other things.

The development was a rough process with the King coming in and out of power and the Scotts refusing some of the practices that the King was trying to enforce upon them.

While it never met its original goal, in the end, the Westminster Confession had a lasting impact and would become a foundational piece of Christianity in Scotland moving forward.




8. The London Baptist Confession of Faith

Although the London Baptist Confession of Faith came out in its fullest form in 1689, the events that sparked its creation began more than fifty years prior. This confession grew out of the persecution of the baptist church by the Church of England and out of the rise of Arminian theology.

At this time, two groups of baptists emerged, the general baptists, and the particular baptists (also known as reformed baptists, or calvinistic baptists).

The London Baptist Confession of faith was the final product of refining the next forty-five years of confessions intended to specify what the particular baptists believed.

This document would become instrumental in the continued development of the reformed baptist church and the baptist church in the Americas, holding value that would last for many years to come.


9. The Augsburg Confession of Faith

War dominated the mind of Roman Emperor Charles V throughout the 1520s. However, when some sense of peace came around, he finally turned his attention back towards the various religious movements gaining traction at the time.

In an effort to resolve some of the perceived religious problems, he called an assembly together to find a solution.

It was at this assembly the Augsburg Confession of Faith was born. Here, Philip Melanchthon presented twenty-eight articles, twenty-one presenting the tenets of the Lutheran Christian Faith, and seven proposing ways to reform various aspects of the Church.

This document was presented by Melanchthon for the entire assembly, including the emperor, with support from Martin Luther who was unable to attend but helped to develop and revise the document.

It made special efforts to prove that their view was not, in fact, contrary to the Bible as many believed at the time, but instead, their way was an attempt at restoring what was once done in the early church.

This document was very important to its time as it was a long needed effort at united The Lutheran and Roman Catholic Church. It had a huge influence on the results of the assembly, much to the King’s disapproval, and would continue to influence The Lutheran Church through present day.


10. Cannons of Dort

The historical European Christian Church, as you have seen so far, has produced many confessions and creeds in response to heresy and persecution across the centuries. Another such document was the Cannons of Dort.

These cannons were an attempt at unifying reformed churches in Germany. The assembly was comprised of a diverse group of reformed church leaders from across Europe who would come together to write the Cannon.

The cannon isn’t particularly well known today, however, it’s condensed version, the five points of Calvinism, is alive and well.

This document outlined these five points in such a way that the reformed churches of the era could rally by it and use it as a standard for their churches, which would have a lasting effect across the globe for centuries down the road.


11. Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

It is important to note that not all of these creeds, confessions, and statements of faith are ancient documents from hundreds of years ago. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy was developed in 1978, and has proved extraordinarily valuable ever since.

This statement was developed in response to a growing departure from the belief in Biblical inerrancy in the church which cropped up in the 60’s. The statement was drafted at a conference by a group of 268 participants representing various denominations, seminaries, colleges, and churches across the nation.

The result was a unified stance on the subject that would set the standard for years to come.

The statement approached the issue from two angles, first asserting the divine inspiration of Scripture by God, then the inerrancy of Scripture based on its divine inspiration.

In the end, part of the miracle of this document was the fact ultimately, this group was able to unite and stand together on something, remaining a positive example to the leaders of today as we walk out our own faith.




12. Nashville Statement

On an even more recent note, the Nashville Statement was drafted in 2017 with the purpose of expressing the evangelical Christian’s stance on matters of gender and sexuality which have come to the forefront of todays conversations.

Recent years have brought with them a push to support homosexuality and the adoption of a gender you were not born into. In an effort to be “loving to all” some churches began to condone these practices which the Bible describes as sinful.

The Nashville Statement was created as a means of outlining what Scripture says on these topics and asserting that the Christian Church does not support these practices.

Due to its recent creation we have not yet seen the full effect this document will have on this generation, however, it has, like other creeds and confessions, given people the choice. It has made clear the stance of the evangelical Christian and will help the church to remain true to the Word of God for years to come.


13. Biblical Creeds

Ultimately, the more important creeds come from the Word of God itself. Throughout the Bible, but particularly the New Testament, we see examples of people confessing and declaring exactly what they believed. Paul in Philippians says:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

- Philippians 2:5-11 ESV

Even Jesus proclaimed the truth of who he was and the good news of the Kingdom.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
- John 14:6 ESV

If we see the great men of faith like Paul and Peter, confessing what they believe, how important is it then for us to also be aware of and proclaim what we believe?

Some dismiss creeds as old liturgical practices that no longer apply. However, I would encourage you to take a second look and recognize how valuable they are. As I said before, creeds encourage people to make a choice about what they believe.

So, I implore you, don’t live in ignorance or indecision. Read through the creeds and confessions above, or study the Word and write your own. The point isn’t that you wake up and recite the Apostles Creed every morning, the point is that you have a firm understanding of what you believe and live it out.

Move on from indecision and ignorance and take responsibility for the truth of what you believe.


* * * * * * *



List of Christian denominations
by number of members
[last updated 12.31.2021]


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Percent of Christian population that is:[1]

  Catholic (50.1%)
  Protestant (36.7%)
  Eastern/Oriental Orthodox (11.9%)
  Other Christian (1.3%)

This is a list of Christian denominations by number of members. It is inevitably partial and generally based on claims by the denominations themselves. The numbers should therefore be considered approximate and the article an ongoing work-in-progress.


The list includes the following Christian denominations: the Catholic Church including the Eastern Catholic Churches; all the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches with some recognition and their offshoots; Protestant denominations with at least 0.2 million members; all the other Christian branches with distinct theologies, such as Restorationist and Nontrinitarianian denominations; the independent Catholic denominations; and the Church of the East. With an estimated 2.42 or 2.3 billion adherents in 2015,[2][3][4] Christianity is the largest religious group in the world, and in 2020 there were about 2.6 billion adherents globally.[5]

Christianity – 2.6 billion

Catholicism – 1.345 billion

A map of Catholicism by population percentage.

Catholicism is the largest branch of Christianity with 1.345 billion, and the Catholic Church is the largest among churches.[6] Figures below are in accordance with the Annuario Pontificio, at 2019.[6] The total figure does not include independent denominations that self-identify as Catholic, numbering some 18 million adherents.

Latin Church – 1.327 billion
Eastern Catholic Churches – 18 million[7]
Canonically irregular groups

Independent Catholicism – 18 million

Various denominations that self-identify as Catholic, despite not being affiliated with the Catholic Church.[16]

Protestantism – 900 million

A map of Protestantism by population percentage.

Protestantism is the second largest major group of Christians by number of followers. Estimates vary from 800 million to 1 billion, or between 31% and 38% of all Christians.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] The main reason for this wide range is the lack of a common agreement among scholars as to which denominations constitute Protestantism. For instance, most sources but not all include Anabaptism, Anglicanism, Baptists and Independent Nondenominational Christianity as part of Protestantism.[30] Moreover, Protestant denominations altogether do not form a single structure comparable to the Catholic Church, or to a lesser extent the Eastern Orthodox communion. However, several different comparable communions exist within Protestantism, such as the Anglican Communion, World Communion of Reformed Churches, World Baptist Alliance, World Methodist Council and the World Lutheran Federation. Regardless, 900 million is the most accepted figure among various authors and scholars, and thus is used in this article. Note that this 900 million figure also includes Anglicanism, as well as Anabaptists, Baptists and multiple other groups that might sometimes disavow a common "Protestant" designation, and would rather prefer to be called, simply, "Christian".[23]

Historical Protestantism – 300–400 million

The number of individuals who are members of historical Protestant Churches totals to 300-400 million.[25]

A map of countries that have a church that is a member of the Anglican Communion (blue),[dubious – discuss] the Porvoo Communion (green), comprising European Anglican and Lutheran churches, and the Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic) (red), a federation of Old Catholic Churches.
Anglicanism – 110 million

There are about 110 million Christians in Anglican tradition,[31][32] mostly part of the Anglican Communion, the third-largest Christian communion in the world.

Baptist churches – 100 million

The worldwide Baptist community numbers about 100 million.[65][66][67][68][69] However, the Baptist World Alliance, the world communion of Baptist churches, self-reports only 47 million baptized believers, as Baptists do not count children as members.[68][66][67] Therefore, the BWA is the 8th largest Christian communion.[70]

Lutheranism – 70–90 million
Lutheran World Federation 2013 Membership Figures

The number of adherents in the Lutheran denomination totals to 70-90 million persons (the Lutheran World Federation reports 77 million, and is the sixth largest communion),[81] being represented in the following churches:[25][82]

Reformed churches (Calvinism) – 60–80 million

The Reformed tradition is represented by 60-80 million people who hold membership in the following churches;[118][119][120][121][122] the World Communion of Reformed Churches is the fourth-largest communion.[123]

Methodism – 60–80 million

The Methodist movement is represented by 60–80 million people (a figure including adherents but non-members), found in denominations including the following;[25][190] the World Methodist Council is the fifth largest communion.[191]

Seventh-day Adventist Church – 21.4 million

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a membership of 21.4 million people.[210][211]

Restoration Movement – 7 million
Anabaptism – 4 million
Plymouth Brethren – 1 million

The Plymouth Brethren number around 1 million members.[216]

Hussites – 1 million
Quakers – 0.4 million[edit]

Modern Protestantism – 400–500 million

The denominations listed below did not emerge from the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century or its commonly acknowledged offshoots. Instead, they are broadly linked to Pentecostalism or similar other independent evangelical and revivalistic movements that originated in the beginning of the 20th century.[217] For this reason, several sources tend to differentiate them from Protestants and classify them together as Independents, Non-core Protestants etc. Also included in this category are the numerous, yet very similar Nondenominational churches. Nonetheless, sources eventually combine their numbers to the Protestant tally.[23][24] Despite the absence of centralized control or leadership, if considered as a single cohort, this will easily be the second largest Christian tradition after Roman Catholicism.[218][219][220] According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC), there are an estimated 450 million Independents world-wide, as of mid-2019.[221]

Pentecostalism – 280 million

Those who are members of the Pentecostal denomination number around 280 million people.[25]

Nondenominational Christianity – 80–100 million
African initiated churches – 60 million

60 million people are members of African initiated churches.[230]

Chinese Patriotic Christian Churches - 25 million
New Apostolic Church – 10 million

The New Apostolic Church has around 10 million members.[237]

Local churches – 1 to 10 million
Messianic Judaism – 0.3 million

Messianic Judaism has a membership of 0.3 million people.[238]

Eastern Protestant Christianity – 22 million

Eastern Protestant Christianity (or Eastern Reformed Christianity) encompasses a range of heterogeneous Protestant Christian denominations that developed outside of the Occident, from the latter half of the nineteenth century and yet keeps elements of Eastern Christianity, to varying degrees. Most of these denominations came into being when existing Protestant Churches adopted reformational variants of Orthodox Christian liturgy and worship; while others are the result of reformations of Orthodox Christian beliefs and practices, inspired by the teachings of Western Protestant missionaries.[239][240][241] Some Protestant Eastern Churches are in communion with similar Western Protestant Churches.[239][242] However, Protestant Eastern Christianity within itself, does not constitute a single communion. This is due to the diverse polities, practices, liturgies and orientations of the denominations which fall under this category.

Eastern protestantism, percentage by country.

Eastern Orthodoxy – 220 million

A map of Eastern Orthodoxy by population percentage.

The best estimate of the number of Eastern Orthodox Christians is 220 million[247] or 80% of all Orthodox Christians worldwide.[248] Its main body consists of the various autocephalous churches along with the autonomous and other churches canonically linked to them, for the most part form a single communion, making the Eastern Orthodox Church the second largest single denomination behind the Catholic Church.[249][250][251] In addition, there are several Eastern Orthodox splinter groups and non-universally recognized churches.

Autocephalous churches – 166 million
Autonomous churches – 13 million
Churches in communion with the above Orthodox Churches but with disputed autocephaly – 19 million
Non-universally recognized churches – 6.27 million
Other separated Orthodox groups – 6 million

Oriental Orthodoxy – 62 million

A map of Oriental Orthodoxy by population percentage.

The Oriental Orthodox Churches are those descended from those that rejected the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Despite the similar name, they are therefore a different branch of Christianity from the Eastern Orthodox (see above). There are an estimated 62 million Oriental Orthodox Christians, worldwide.[264][265][266]

Autocephalous churches – 61.7 million
Autonomous churches – 0.01 million
Churches not in communion – 0.07 million

Non-trinitarian Restorationism – 35 million

Distribution of other Christians

A sixth group is composed by Nontrinitarian Restorationists. These groups are quite distinct from orthodox Trinitarian restorationist groups such as the Disciples of Christ, despite some shared history.

Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism) – 16.7 million
Jehovah's Witnesses – 8.5 million[287]
Oneness Pentecostalism – 6 million
Minor denominations – 4.4 million

Church of the East – 0.6 million

Divisions occurred within the church itself, but by 1830 two unified patriarchates and distinct churches remained: the Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church (an Eastern Catholic Church in communion with the Holy See). The Ancient Church of the East split from the Assyrian Church of the East in 1968. In 2017, the Chaldean Catholic Church had approximately 628,405 members,[292] the Assyrian Church of the East 323,300,[293] while the Ancient Church of the East had 100,000.

See also

References

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