Okay, so there's obviously a lot of differences in Christian theological standards, styles of worship, methods of salvation, and etc.
So I've decided to create a cognitive connection through a diagram--I call it the diamond of theology.
Now the diamond works like this: the vertical axis (y) is the method of salvation--that is, whether it is extrinsic (works) or intrinsic (faith). Lutherans are the most reluctant to admit salvation through works (I know that many evangleicals profess that THEY are the most intrinsic, but actual evangelical tradition requires an emotional conversion experience (same with pentecostalism) and to Lutherans, that counts as a work), while Catholics and Episcopalians are the most focused on extrinsic salvation.
The horizontal axes (X) works on the basis of theological conservatism or liberalism: that is, how closely the Bible is linked to a particular church's theology, and how important it will be. For example, a lot of fundamentalist churches (more conservative than evangelicalis) will be on the far right of this scale, while a lot of UCC (United Church of Christ) and American Unitarian Conference (AUC) churches will be on the far left- because they are the most theologically liberal. Keep in mind that this axes denotes THEOLOGICAL, not POLITICAL leanings.
I also realize that in certain cases, chjurches may not fit very well into this chart--presbyterians, for example, are hard to classify because of that church's official insistence on predesttionation--a beleif that is expressed by only 1 out of 18 members of that church. I've tried to align churches as closely as possible to their actual belief systems and their practices.
I've combined Catholic and Orthodox churches into the list; I am aware that many Protestants will have difficulty understanding their positions on the scale; I have also included traditionally "non-mainline" groups such as Unitarians, Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnsesss.
So here goes: (y-axes first, faith v. works)
MOST INTRINSIC
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)
Missouri Synod Lutherans
Wisconsin Synod Lutherans
Southern Baptist Conference
American Baptist Conference
General Conference Baptists
African Methodist Episcopal (AME)
Evangelical Free Church
Jehovah's Witnesses/Watchtower Society
Average Evangelical Church (nondenom.)
Pentecostals (nondenom.)
Word-Faith Pentecostals (Benny Hinn)
Church of God/Christ (pentecostal)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Church of America
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Evangelical United Brethren
Wesleyan Church
United Methodist Church
Epispocal Church (Anglicans)
Mennonite/Amish
Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
World Unification Church
Roman Catholic Church
Greek/Russian Orthodox Church
American Unitarian Conference (AUC)
Unitarian Universalist Associatoin (UUA)
Progressive Christian Church (PCC)
MOST EXTRINSIC
And here's the other spectrum: theological leanings
MOST THEOLOGICALLY LIBERAL
Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
American Unitarian Conference (AUC)
Progressive Christian Church (PCC)
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)
Episcopalian Church of America
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Wesleyan Church
United Methodist Church (UMC)
General Conference Baptists
Presbyterian Church of America
Evangelical United Brethren
Wisconsin/Missouris Synod Lutherans
American Baptist Conference
Roman Catholic Church
Greek Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
Average Evangelical Church
Evangelical Free Church
Pentecostal Nondenomination Church
Word-Faith Pentecostal Church (Benny Hinn; Paul Crouch)
Church of God
Church of Christ
Southern Baptist Conference
Jehovah's Witnesses/Watchtower Society (JW)
Mennonites/Amish
World Unification Church
Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints (LDS Mormons)
Biblical Fundamentalist Church (nondenomination)
MOST THEOLOGICALLY CONSERVATIVE
Christian Denomination Theology Diagram
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Re: Christian Denomination Theology Diagram
Very interesting. I've often wondered about this sort of comparison. Thanks!
G-d is not a man, that He should be deceitful, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. (Numbers 23:19)
The fear of the L-RD is the beginning of knowledge; foolish ones scorn wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)
The beginning of wisdom is to aquire wisdom; from your every acquisition acquire understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)
The fear of the L-RD is the beginning of knowledge; foolish ones scorn wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)
The beginning of wisdom is to aquire wisdom; from your every acquisition acquire understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)