[SoothingDave]

Yet the lion’s share of Baptist denominations are independent, making them (in Barrett’s calculation) separate denominations. In other words, if there are ten Independent Baptist churches in a given city, even though all of them are identical in belief and practice, each one is counted as a separate denomination due to its autonomy in jurisdiction.

We're supposed to believe that every independent Baptist Church and every one of their pastors is "identical in belief and practice"?

SD

[HarleyD]

I know if I attend another Southern Baptist church in town I can guarantee they'll be the same in both belief and practice. But I can assure you that the Free Will Baptist have a somewhat different perspective.

But the article is saying you could have 10 Southern Baptist churches in one city with the same belief (not implausible in a large city) but they were each counted as a seperate church since Southern Baptist are independently operated. This, of course, drive the count up of Protestant denominations if you want to slice the cookie this way.

One would have to look at David A. Barrett’s World Christian Encyclopedia for a more detail understanding.

[OLD REGGIE]

We're supposed to believe that every independent Baptist Church and every one of their pastors is "identical in belief and practice"?

Not at all. No more so than you are to believe every "Catholic" Church and every one of their pastors is "identical in belief and practice".

[GirlShortstop]

We're supposed to believe that every independent Baptist Church and every one of their pastors is "identical in belief and practice"?

Religion of Redundancy Religion.    :-)