how do you choose a denomination

[thymetoseasontheclock]

Hi, is there a simple website or pdf resource out there that breaks down all of the branches and denominations of Christianity? there are so many branches like Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Presbyterianism, Orthodox, Anglicanism, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, etc its like Ahhhh 🙀 or do you just start attending any local church you like and see where it leads you?

Catholicism is the original Christianity. You can trace the Popes all the way back to St Peter.
All other denominations of Christianity are splits from the Catholic Church.
If you want the Christiany with the fullness of faith and the most miracles - look up Fatima, and Eucharistic miracles. That’s the one to go for.
I also really recommend the Podcast Bible in a Year. It starts again on 1st January. It will likely help you to decide.

I don't know and I can't choose. I like aspects of lots of different denominations. I read devotionals from a load of different ones and participate in online church services.

Choose one that aligns with your opinions. If anybody questions your opinions say it's your religion. Easy!

Churches even within denominations are very different. I go to my nearest RC Church and it’s lovely, warm and welcoming. If I go to the RC Cathedral it’s also very welcoming- but there’s more parts of the Mass are sung and it has a more serious tone overall. There are RCIA classes to learn about becoming Catholic. The Alpha course is also available in many Christian Churches.

So you do need to try out Churches to an extent. You can do that online more easily these days. Just look up individual Churches near you and see if they stream any services on YouTube.

I guess as you explore different Churches and google more about them then you will build up more knowledge.

As someone said Fr Mike Schmitz Bible in a Year is a great podcast. Nicky Gumbel (who set up Alpha) does Bible in a year as well
There’s religious apps available too. Hallow,
Universalis (Catholic Mass). Once you start looking you’ll find loads of info.

This is a decent video which explains a bit about the differences in the denominations. It's not perfect but it's a starting point:

With all due respect, that's not "how to choose a denomination", that's "my denomination is the best".

OP, going to local churches and chatting to the clergy or other people who help run the church (might be called trustees, wardens, elders or similar) can often be a good place to start. Especially if you're not yet sure exactly what you believe, it can be very overwhelming to try and research all the denominations. And different churches within a denomination can be very different, regarding everything from the type of music to whether or not they have women clergy or do/ would do same-sex marriage. You also don't have to "pick and stick". You can go and try out different churches, and if after a while one isn't working so well, or you want to try out a slightly different belief system or worship style, you can do that. Plenty of people belong to different denominations at different times of life, for all sorts of reasons.

After I became a Christian I wanted to get baptised but didn’t know what church to go to. So I asked God and immediately a new person came to work in my office. By the end of our first conversation she had invited me to visit her church the next Sunday and it so happened that week they were going to be baptising people. I was baptised there a few months later and it became my church for the first seven years of being a Christian, until He led me to another one.

So in my experience if you ask God He will lead you to wherever He wants you to be.

I would choose a church you like over the denomination OP - they are all Christian. I have chopped and changed with CofE, Baptist, Methodist and Ecumenical. When I move area I try different churches.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the denomination, but instead, look for a church that you enjoy attending and that you feel you fit in. I would also look for good bible based teaching, a worship style you like, whether that is modern/informal or traditional hymns and organ music, and a church that plays an active part in the community throughout the week, not just an hour long service on a Sunday to fulfil an obligation.

I watched this, I'm not a Christian but know a lot about it (been to many churches, read theology) and it's quite good. Definitely watch this.
And his next one: which denomination should I join? Good too. Tells you what to expect at a church service.

Don't choose a denomination. Choose a local church that welcomes you and seems to have a good focus on Jesus and not on the leader. Look for one that has helpful preaching and a sense of community.

Go along to your local churches - acouple of times each.
You can also change at any time.Christian churches are not sects.

“Choose a local church that welcomes you and seems to have a good focus on Jesus and not on the leader.”

excellent advice.

I don't understand this anti-intellectual attitude about your religion and faith. Going to a Baptist church is very different from attending a Catholic or Presbyterian church...

I don't understand this anti-intellectual attitude about your religion and faith. Going to a Baptist church is very different from attending a Catholic or Presbyterian church...

@Sorciere1, maybe because faith involves more than intellect. We can engage on a spiritual level which can be more about a feeling than being able being able to fully conceptualise an experience. I don't think faith precludes intellectual engagement however if we are talking about supernatural experience it is hardly surprising our intellectual understanding is insufficient in order to fully process it.

I get where @Sorciere1 is coming from - intellectual understanding of Faith enhances it. It becomes even more amazing. Otherwise I think there’s a risk of diminishing Faith in God to fairy tails.
Both are needed in my view.

@RedRosesPinkLilies as I said I don't believe faith precludes intellectual engagement. However there is certainly room for mystery! Which by definition you cannot intellectualise. And don't underestimate 'fairy tales'! Narrative is as old as the hills. It tells us a lot about ourselves.

We go to a CofE because we like both the liturgy and the theology - i e. how they worship and what they believe.
We prefer something more traditional in style but liberal in theology. There are CofE churches that are very different in both worship style and theology though.
I could probably go to a church that was different in one or the other but I could NOT go to a church that believed it was the only way to worship or know God.
These include churches that say "we are the original church" and those that say "we are bible believing" because both of those imply everyone else isn't!

And I think what splits Christian doctrine from fairy / folk tales is the source of what is being communicated. Fairy / folk tales are essentially cultural - of the people. Which could include aspects various beliefs. They are not necessarily less intellectual. I have even a book of scientific 'fairy tales' which were designed to teach scientific concepts to people who particularly enjoyed the fairy/folk tale narrative genre.

There are lots of resources on the web for comparing the basic tenets of faith, but the main thing is to find a church family that will nurture you and your family.

I think the best way to approach this is to go to your local church and see how you feel about it. How welcome did they make you? Do you think you can make friends there? Do they have mid-week activities (daytime and evening) that will provide you with Christian growth and friendship? Are there good groups for children? Do you like the music? Do they look after their local community - those in need, the environment, etc., and what is their mission in the wider world. Also, as you grow in faith, do you think you can contribute to the life of this church?

There is a good website called A Church Near You - ACNY, that does what it says on the tin. I would also have a good look around websites of churches that interest you. A good website should give you a look into the life of the church and provide practical information.

Asking here will inevitably draw out people encourage you to go to their church, but that might not suit you. You have to make up your own mind.

The first 15 leaders of the Church according to Gibbon were circumsized Jews. Nothing whatsoever to do with St Peter. The Catholic Church has form for making things up eg see below Donation of Constantine ( Wikipedia) to bolster up their claims to control Christianity.

The Donation of Constantine (Latin: Donatio Constantini) is a forged Roman imperial decree by which the 4th-century emperor Constantine the Greatsupposedly transferred authority over Rome and the western part of the Roman Empire to the Pope. Composed probably in the 9th century, it was used, especially in the 13th century, in support of claims of political authority by the papacy.[

This seems backwards to me. What if you go to the nice friendly church and they believe in the real presence and you do not. Or they believe sola fide and you discover you do not.
It seems to me it's better to look into such things and go to a like-minded church. Then you can find a friendly one in that denomination .

Hello! Good evening! I haven’t had a chance to read through this yet! I’m about to put the kettle on and have a look in a jiffy. Thanks ever so much for )all your replies

If you find a perfect church, don't go! You will surely spoil it.

I am glad I asked this question, even if I still feel like I've accidentally wandered into a maze! 🤣 at least it seems I'm not alone in that. Part of my problem is actually just trying not to be such a bloody control freak about everything. can I still say "bloody"? 😂

So Catholicism is the grandparent of all Christianity—traces its lineage straight back to St. Peter, as if he were the ultimate family tree branch. So, all those other denominations are little offshoots from the Catholic core. Something like that? I'll look into it. I'm going to start with that, and as suggested find a bible app that feels right. Thank you!

Happy to see this lively chat! Sorry for my late reply. I've been multitasking like a clown on a unicycle, and now it’s time for the curtain call. Wooo

So, goodnight and God bless!!