Ditto
If you read the article I linked, it all depends upon the criteria chosen. Catholics who use the 30,000 figure to criticize Protestants use the loosest definition of "denomination" possible, in order to exaggerate the results. If I wanted to, I could come up with some sort of criteria to give me several, or dozens, or hundreds of "denominations" within the Catholic Church.
I read it the first time the nurse posted it. I think it’s a masterful piece of rationalization but falls well short of negating the fact that any multiplicity of doctrinal deviation within the realm of Protestantism, or non-Catholic Christianity, illustrates the point Catholics make when they bring up the issue of the Holy Spirit guiding individuals in scriptural interpretation. As I said, two distinct denominations with contradictory dogma would be enough to make the point. In fact, the only point they can all stand in agreement on is that they ain’t Catholic.
Doesn't really matter much to me. But the 30,000 figure is simply dishonest.
I don’t think it’s dishonest. The link I posted which shows over 30,000 denominations is from what appears to be a non-denominational (!) Christian organization. I have no problem with having a more strict criteria for developing a more accurate number but to do that we would have to agree on a methodology. I think that may cause a problem since we have a hard time agreeing on what would appear to be the most basic issues regarding faith…
BTW Why the name change?
When I joined FR back in '98, I was still Catholic. The screen name I chose -- "angelo" -- was my Catholic confirmation name! When I became a "born again Jew" about three years ago, I still kept the name because I wanted to keep my "freeper born-on date". But as time passed I grew less and less comfortable using a name associated with a religion I no longer practice. I finally stopped procrastinating about a month ago, and petitioned Jim Robinson for a name change, which he graciously granted to me. "malakhi" means the same thing in Hebrew that "angelo" does in Latin; they both mean "messenger". So I was able to preserve continuity in some sense.
I've been told that my new identity is more pugnacious, but anyone who says that is lying. ;o)