[Catholicguy]

<> To be Catholic, one must be Baptised and maintain the Bonds of Unity in Worship, Doctrine, Authority. Sever one of those Bonds and one is CINO, like your rep

As to the number of Protestant denominations, what number should we use? 10,000, 20,000, 30,000...suggestions?<>

[xzins]

I would use the US Military's handbook on denominations. They have listed within all those that are organized/recognized varieties of faith. (They also have non-Christian varieties of religion that are present in the US.) The handbook is used by chaplains in gaining background info on some of the religious beliefs of those who might join up as soldiers.)

A denomination doesn't include every tom/dick/harry who hangs out a shingle....which isn't a fair way to consider a denomination in the first place. A denomination is a successfully enduring BODY of adherents to a broadly distinctive brand of belief.

You'll be relieved to know that the military doesn't include umpteen thousand catholic churches. There's ONE Roman Catholic Church. There is, however, a Byzantine Catholic Church.

[A.J.Armitage]

The fact remains, he is in communion with the Pope. You can say he's not Catholic, but the Catholic Church itself says otherwise.

I see from your later replies you're intent on using the 30,000 figure. The figure has been so thoroughly discredited above that if you should do so you will expose yourself as a willful liar.

[ACAC]

It seems to me that any church could say that all of the other churches are divided so we are the one true church. The Catholics say that Protestants are divided, so that means the Catholic church is the right one. The Southern Baptist could say that as well. They could say that all of the other churches are divided and don't agree with the SBC, therefore, the SBC is the true church. This argument never made any sense to me. Just because there are 30,000 other churches does not mean your or my church (Lutheran) is the right one. Maybe you can enlighten me.