Religious denomination

A religious denomination is a subgroup within a larger religion. These groups operate under a common name and shared traditions. Denominations allow large faiths to organize into smaller, distinct bodies. They are often defined by specific traits. These traits include common names, organizational structures, and leadership styles. They also follow specific doctrines, which are sets of beliefs. While "denomination" is a common term, individual groups might prefer different names. They may call themselves a "church" or a "fellowship."

In Christianity, denominations are often divided by doctrine and authority. Doctrine refers to the specific teachings a group follows. One major cause of division is biblical interpretation. Groups may disagree on how to read and understand sacred texts. They may also differ on the authority of apostolic succession. This is the idea that leaders have authority passed down from early apostles. Other divisions involve eschatology, which is the study of the end of the world. Some groups also disagree on papal primacy, or the authority of the Pope. The largest Christian denomination is the Catholic Church.

Islam contains various branches, sects, and subdivisions. These include schools of jurisprudence, which are systems of law. They also include schools of theology and various religious movements. Historically, Islam was divided into three major sects: Sunni, Khawarij, and Shi'ah. Today, Sunni Islam is the largest religious denomination in the world. Sunnis make up about 90% of the global Muslim population. The Shi'ah branch accounts for approximately 10% of Muslims. The Ibadis, who come from the Kharijites, represent less than 0.15% of the population.

There are many specific groups within the Shi'ah branch. For example, Usulism makes up about 8.5% of the Shi'ah. Nizari Ismailism accounts for about 1%. Alevism is another group, making up about 0.5% to 1% of Turkey's population. Other existing groups include the Zaydi Shi'a of Yemen. They represent more than 0.5% of the world's Muslim population. The Musta'li Ismaili group makes up nearly 0.1% of Muslims. Their Taiyabi adherents live in India and Pakistan, with diaspora populations in Europe and North America.

Newer Muslim sects have also developed independently. These include African American Muslims and Ahmadi Muslims, the latter making up nearly 1%. There are also non-denominational Muslims and Quranist Muslims. A survey by the Pew Research Center provides interesting data on this. It suggests that up to 25% of Muslims globally identify as non-denominational. This means they do not strictly belong to one specific branch.

Judaism features different movements that have developed since ancient times. These are often called denominations or branches. The three main lines are Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative. These groups differ in many ways. They have different levels of observance regarding Jewish law. They also use different methodologies for interpreting the law. They may disagree on biblical authorship and textual criticism. They might even differ on the role of the messiah. Liturgy, or the way public worship is conducted, also varies. Traditional movements often emphasize the use of Hebrew.

In the United States, the threefold structure of Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative is very common. However, in Israel, the main divisions are different. There, the fault lines exist between religious Orthodox people and non-religious people. The non-Orthodox movements are sometimes called "liberal denominations" or "progressive streams." This highlights how the importance of specific denominations can change depending on where people live.

Hinduism also organizes into denominations based on specific beliefs. A denomination in Hinduism is often identified by a major deity or a philosophical belief. These groups typically have distinct cultural and religious practices. The four major denominations are Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartism.

Finally, the term "multi-denominational" describes settings where many groups meet. This often happens during civic events to be inclusive of the population. For example, during the 2010 Copiapó mining accident in Chile, a service was held at Campamento Esperanza. This service included both a Roman Catholic priest and an Evangelical preacher. Chaplains also play a role in multi-denominational settings. They are clergy assigned to secular organizations like the military. They are often trained to minister to people of many different faiths. Some people even experience faith that crosses formal boundaries. They might find certain practices helpful without fully joining a specific denomination.