Christian Denomination Theology Diagram

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309756
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Christian Denomination Theology Diagram

Post by 309756 »

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
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Re: Christian Denomination Theology Diagram

Post by !XogFog »

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)



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