"The curious thing about organized religion is that it schismed into 189 Protestant sects, 12 or so Catholic sects, a 100 or so non-Christian sects---and each one claims to have "truth". And a thousand cults."
Another poster says there are 4000+ religions. Which is it, now? You anti-religionists contradict each other too.
The fact is that most of humanity adheres to a handful of major religions, most of which are monotheisitic and acknowledge much of the Christian Bible. Another fact is that most Christians agree on major doctrine. And what are these "12 Catholic sects?" All Catholic churches follow similar doctrine. They differ only in details of liturgy.
Adherents.com is a growing collection of over 43,870 adherent statistics and religious geography citations: references to published membership/adherent statistics and congregation statistics for over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc. The religions of the world are enumerated here.
For statistical purposes: Groups which self-identify as part of Christianity include (but are not limited to): African Independent Churches (AICs), the Aglipayan Church, Amish, Anglicans, Armenian Apostolic, Assemblies of God; Baptists, Calvary Chapel, Catholics, Christadelphians, Christian Science, the Community of Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormons"), Coptic Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches, Ethiopian Orthodox, Evangelicals, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Local Church, Lutherans, Methodists, Monophysites, Nestorians, the New Apostolic Church, Pentecostals, Plymouth Brethren, Presbyterians, the Salvation Army, Seventh-Day Adventists, Shakers, Stone-Campbell churches (Disciples of Christ; Churches of Christ; the "Christian Church and Churches of Christ"; the International Church of Christ); Uniate churches, United Church of Christ/Congregationalists, the Unity Church, Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Vineyard churches and others. These groups exhibit varying degrees of similarity, cooporation, communion, etc. with other groups.
Another poster says there are 4000+ religions. Which is it, now? You anti-religionists contradict each other too.
The fact is that most of humanity adheres to a handful of major religions, most of which are monotheisitic and acknowledge much of the Christian Bible. Another fact is that most Christians agree on major doctrine. And what are these "12 Catholic sects?" All Catholic churches follow similar doctrine. They differ only in details of liturgy.
You make much of little. There is no contradiction---thousands of cults, 4000+ religious faiths, all equal within estimates. Do you disagree that there are at least a thousand different religious faiths? Do you disagree that Christians are split into 200 or so denominations?
There seem to be about 340,000 preachers, priests, pastors, imams, faith healers, mullahs, ministers in the USA. According to IRS figures from those claiming tax exemptions in one of the above categories as being in an organized denomination, sect or cult. Those in un-organized cults are impossible to count.
Do you agree that the schisms within Christianity teach different "truths"?
You falsely assert that I am an "anti-religionist". In fact, I am a church member, regularly attend with my family, and tithe. Many people believe in "wisdom" presented in one ancient book, and such believing may be helpful for them. The claim that "because I believe, you must/should also" is dubious.