Denomination

Denomination is from the Latin denominare (to name), from de (away from, completely) and nominare (to name). The literal sense is the act of naming or being named. In religious usage the term refers to a named branch or organized group within a larger religious tradition. The category is most developed in Christian discourse and fits other traditions in varying degrees.

the term fits some traditions better than others, so classification should be done carefully.

Christian denominations include Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and many more. Within each major family, sub-denominations exist (Southern Baptist, American Baptist, Reformed Baptist, etc.). The total number of recognized Christian denominations globally is estimated in the tens of thousands, though the count depends on how denomination is defined.

Sociologists of religion have developed typologies including church (an inclusive religious body), sect (an exclusive group distinguished by stricter membership requirements), denomination (an organized branch in a pluralistic religious landscape), and cult (a small group around a charismatic leader, often with stigmatizing connotations the term has acquired). Ernst Troeltsch's original church-sect typology has been refined and contested in subsequent scholarship.

The denominational framework fits some traditions better than others. Islam is often discussed in terms of Sunni and Shia branches, with schools of law (madhhabs) and devotional orders as further differentiation; Muslims often resist the English word denomination for these distinctions. Buddhism is typically divided into Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, with many regional and lineage-based schools within each; again the denominational label fits imperfectly. Hindu tradition resists denominational categorization in significant ways; sampradayas (devotional lineages), darshanas (philosophical schools), and regional traditions cross-cut each other.

Jewish movements (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal) function denominationally in some ways but differ from Christian denominations in important respects, particularly the way Jewish identity rests on peoplehood as well as on movement affiliation.

Indigenous traditions and African Diaspora traditions generally do not organize themselves denominationally.

Denomination studies is a major area in sociology of religion. The classical work by Weber, Troeltsch[1], and others established the typology; subsequent scholarship including Stephen Warner, Nancy Ammerman, and others has refined it. Comparative work has questioned how far the denominational frame can be extended beyond Western Christian contexts[2].

• The Social Teaching of the Christian Churchesby Ernst Troeltsch
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• The World's Religionsby Huston Smith
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