Christian denomination

== Modern history ==
=== Unitarianism ===
{{Further|Biblical Unitarianism}}
Within Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Transylvania, Hungary and Romania [[Unitarianism|Unitarian Churches]] emerged from the [[Reformed tradition]] in the 16th century.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fahlbusch |first1=Erwin |last2=Bromiley |first2=Geoffrey William |last3=Lochman |first3=Jan Milic |last4=Mbiti |first4=John |last5=Pelikan |first5=Jaroslav |title=The Encyclodedia of Christianity, Vol. 5 |date=14 February 2008 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |isbn=978-0-8028-2417-2 |page=603 |language=English}}</ref><ref>J. Gordon Melton, ''Encyclopedia of Protestantism'', 2005, p. 543: "Unitarianism – The word ''unitarian'' [italics] means one who believes in the oneness of God; historically it refers to those in the Christian community who rejected the doctrine of the Trinity (one God expressed in three persons). Non-Trinitarian Protestant churches emerged in the 16th century in ITALY, POLAND, and TRANSYLVANIA."</ref> They adopted the [[Anabaptist]] doctrine of [[credobaptism]].<ref name="Bochenski2013">{{cite book |last1=Bochenski |first1=Michael I. |title=Transforming Faith Communities: A Comparative Study of Radical Christianity in Sixteenth-Century Anabaptism and Late Twentieth-Century Latin America |date=14 March 2013 |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |isbn=978-1-62189-597-8 |language=English}}</ref> The [[Unitarian Church of Transylvania]] is an example of such a denomination that arose in this era and is represented in the [[Protestant Theological Institute of Cluj]]. Due to their rejection of the [[Athanasian Creed]] which contains the doctrine of the [[Trinity]], many [[Nicene Christianity|mainstream Christian Churches]] do not recognize Unitarians as Christians.<ref name="Cameron1872">{{cite book |last1=Cameron |first1=Archibald Alexander |title=Protestantism and Its Relation to the Moral, Intellectual and Spiritual Developments of Modern Times: A Lecture Delivered in the Baptist Chapel, Ottawa, on Sunday Evening, Jan. 21st, 1872 |date=1872 |publisher=Joseph Loveday |page=12 |language=English}}</ref>

=== Restorationism ===
==== Second Great Awakening ====
{{Main|Second Great Awakening|Restorationism|Restoration Movement}}
The Stone-Campbell [[Restoration Movement]] began on the American frontier during the [[Second Great Awakening]] (1790–1870) of the early 19th century. The movement sought to restore the church and "the unification of all Christians in a single body patterned after the church of the New Testament."<ref name="I Just Want to Be a Christian">[[Rubel Shelly]], ''I Just Want to Be a Christian'', 20th Century Christian, Nashville, Tennessee 1984, {{ISBN|0-89098-021-7}}</ref>{{rp|54}} Members do not identify as [[Protestant]] but simply as Christian.<ref>"The church of Jesus Christ is non-denominational. It is neither Catholic, Jewish nor Protestant. It was not founded in 'protest' of any institution, and it is not the product of the 'Restoration' or 'Reformation.' It is the product of the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11ff) grown in the hearts of men." V. E. Howard, ''What Is the Church of Christ?'' 4th Edition (Revised), 1971, page 29</ref><ref name="Neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jew">Batsell Barrett Baxter and Carroll Ellis, ''Neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jew'', tract, Church of Christ (1960) ASIN: B00073CQPM. According to Richard Thomas Hughes in ''Reviving the Ancient Faith: The Story of Churches of Christ in America,'' Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996 ({{ISBN|0-8028-4086-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8028-4086-8}}), this is "arguably the most widely distributed tract ever published by the Churches of Christ or anyone associated with that tradition."</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia of Religion in the South">Samuel S. Hill, Charles H. Lippy, Charles Reagan Wilson, ''Encyclopedia of Religion in the South'', [[Mercer University Press]], 2005, ({{ISBN|0-86554-758-0}}, {{ISBN|978-0-86554-758-2}}) 854 pages</ref>{{rp|213}}

The Restoration Movement developed from several independent efforts to return to [[Apostolic Age|apostolic Christianity]], but two groups, which independently developed similar approaches to the Christian faith, were particularly important.<ref name="Redigging the Wells">Monroe E. Hawley, ''Redigging the Wells: Seeking Undenominational Christianity'', Quality Publications, Abilene, Texas, 1976, {{ISBN|0-89137-512-0}} (paper), {{ISBN|0-89137-513-9}} (cloth)</ref>{{rp|27–32}} The first, led by [[Barton W. Stone]], began at [[Cane Ridge]], Kentucky and called themselves simply as "[[Christians (Stone Movement)|Christians]]". The second began in western Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Virginia) and was led by [[Thomas Campbell (clergyman)|Thomas Campbell]] and his son, [[Alexander Campbell (clergyman)|Alexander Campbell]]; they used the name "[[Disciples of Christ (Campbell Movement)|Disciples of Christ]]". Both groups sought to restore the whole Christian church on the pattern set forth in the [[New Testament]], and both believed that [[creed]]s kept Christianity divided. In 1832 they joined in fellowship with a handshake.

Among other things, they were united in the belief that [[Jesus]] is the Christ, the [[Son of God]]; that Christians should celebrate the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]] on the [[Sabbath in Christianity|first day of each week]]; and that [[Believer's baptism|baptism of adult believers]] by [[Immersion baptism|immersion in water]] is a necessary condition for [[salvation]]. Because the founders wanted to abandon all denominational labels, they used the biblical names for the followers of Jesus.<ref name="McAlister & Tucker, 1975">McAlister, Lester G. and Tucker, William E. (1975), ''Journey in Faith: A History of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)'', St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, {{ISBN|978-0-8272-1703-4}}</ref>{{rp|27}} Both groups promoted a return to the purposes of the [[Christianity in the 1st century|1st-century churches]] as described in the New Testament. One historian of the movement has argued that it was primarily a unity movement, with the restoration motif playing a subordinate role.<ref name="Garrett 2002">Leroy Garrett, ''The Stone-Campbell Movement: The Story of the American Restoration Movement'', College Press, 2002, {{ISBN|0-89900-909-3}}, {{ISBN|978-0-89900-909-4}}, 573 pages</ref>{{rp |8}}

The Restoration Movement has since divided into multiple separate groups. There are three main branches in the US: the [[Churches of Christ]], the [[Christian churches and churches of Christ]], and the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]]. Other U.S.-based groups affiliated with the movement are the [[International Churches of Christ]] and the [[International Christian Churches]]. Non-U.S. groups include the [[Churches of Christ in Australia]], the [[Evangelical Christian Church in Canada]], the [[Churches of Christ in Europe]]. The [[Plymouth Brethren]] are a similar though historically unrelated group which originated in the United Kingdom. Some churches, such as [[Churches of Christ]] or the [[Plymouth Brethren]] reject formal ties with other churches within the movement.

Other Christian groups originating during the Second Great Awakening including the [[Millerites|Adventist movement]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Albin |first1=Barry |title=A Spiritual History of the Western Tradition |page=124}}</ref> the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Van Voorst, Robert E.|title=RELG: World (with Religion CourseMate with eBook Printed Access Card)|publisher=Cengage Learning|page=288|year=2012|isbn=978-1-1117-2620-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QvNWxEEaf50C&pg=PT303}}</ref> and [[Christian Science]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eddy |first1=Mary Baker |title=Manual of the Mother Church |publisher=CSPS |page=17 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18039 |access-date=18 February 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728125557/http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18039 |url-status=live}}</ref> founded within fifty years of one another, all consider themselves to be restorative of primitive Christianity and the early church. Some Baptist churches with [[Landmarkism|Landmarkist]] views have similar beliefs concerning their connection with primitive Christianity.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Albanese |first1=Catherine |title=America: Religions and Religion |publisher=[[Cengage Learning]] |page=122}}</ref>

==== Latter Day Saint movement ====
{{Main|Latter Day Saint movement|Mormonism}}
{{See also|List of denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement|Mormonism and Christianity}}
Most Latter Day Saint denominations are derived from the [[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)]] established by [[Joseph Smith]] in 1830, which is categorized as a [[Restorationist]] denomination.<ref name="OCRT2012"/> The largest worldwide denomination is [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], colloquially referred to as [[Mormonism]]. Various considerably smaller sects broke from this movement after its relocation to the Rocky Mountains in the mid-1800s. Several of these broke away over the abandonment of practicing [[Mormonism and polygamy|plural marriage]] after the [[1890 Manifesto]]. Most of the "Prairie Saint" denominations (see below) were established after [[Death of Joseph Smith|Smith's death]] by the remnants of the Latter Day Saints who did not go west with [[Brigham Young]]. Many of these opposed some of the 1840s theological developments in favor of 1830s theological understandings and practices. Other denominations are defined by either a belief in Joseph Smith as a [[prophet]] or acceptance of the [[Book of Mormon]] as [[religious text|scripture]]. [[Mormons]] generally consider themselves to be [[Restorationism|restorationist]], believing that Smith, as [[prophet, seer, and revelator]], restored the original and true Church of Christ to the earth. Some Latter Day Saint denominations are regarded by other Christians as being [[Nontrinitarianism|nontrinitarian]] or even non-Christian, but the Latter Day Saints are predominantly in disagreement with these statements. Latter Day Saints see themselves as believing in a [[God in Mormonism|Godhead]] comprising the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as separate personages united in purpose. Latter Day Saints regard traditional definitions of the [[Trinity]] as aberrations of true doctrine and emblematic of the [[Great Apostasy]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Articles of Faith, no. 1 |url=http://mormon.org/articles-of-faith |access-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531162806/http://mormon.org/articles-of-faith |archive-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> but they do not accept certain trinitarian definitions in the [[List of Christian creeds|post-apostolic creeds]], such as the [[Athanasian Creed]].

=== Spiritual Christianity ===
[[Spiritual Christianity]], inclusive of the [[Molokan]]s and [[Doukhobors]] emerged in Russia, each containing a unique tradition.<ref name="Campbell2000">{{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=Ted A. |title=The Religion of the Heart |date=20 March 2000 |publisher=[[Wipf and Stock Publishers]] |isbn=978-1-57910-433-7 |page=138 |language=English}}</ref> The Doukhobor have maintained close association with [[Mennonites|Mennonite Anabaptist Christians]] and [[Quakers|Quaker Christians]] due to analogous religious practices; all of these groups are furthermore collectively considered to be [[peace churches]] due to their belief in [[Christian pacifism|pacifism]].<ref name="FlemingRowan2004">{{cite book |last1=Fleming |first1=John A. |last2=Rowan |first2=Michael J. |last3=Chambers |first3=James Albert |title=Folk Furniture of Canada's Doukhobors, Hutterites, Mennonites and Ukrainians |year=2004 |publisher=[[University of Alberta]] |language=en |isbn=9780888644183 |page=[https://archive.org/details/folkfurnitureofc00flem/page/4 4] |quote=The English Quakers, who had made contact with the Doukhobors earlier, as well as the Philadelphia Society of Friends, also determined to help with their emigration from Russia to some other country—the only action which seemed possible.|url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/folkfurnitureofc00flem/page/4}}</ref><ref name="DyckMartin">{{cite book |last1=Dyck |first1=Cornelius J. |last2=Martin |first2=Dennis D. |title=The Mennonite Encyclopedia |publisher=Mennonite Brethren Publishing House |language=en |page=107}}</ref><ref name="Fahlbusch2008">{{cite book |last=Fahlbusch |first=Erwin |title=The Encyclodedia of Christianity |date=14 February 2008 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |isbn=9780802824172 |page=208 |language=en |quote=The only contact with Mennonites was the period 1802–1841 when they lived in the Molotschna, where Johann Cornies (q.v.) rendered them considerable assistance.}}</ref>

=== Other movements ===
Protestant denominations have shown a strong tendency towards diversification and fragmentation, giving rise to numerous churches and movements, especially in Anglo-American religious history, where the process is cast in terms of a series of "[[Great Awakening]]s".

The most recent wave of diversification, known as the [[Fourth Great Awakening]] took place during the 1960s to 1980s and resulted in phenomena such as the [[Charismatic Movement]], the [[Jesus movement]], and a number of [[parachurch organization]]s based in [[Evangelicalism]].

Many independent churches and movements consider themselves to be [[Nondenominational|non-denominational]], but may vary greatly in doctrine. Many of these, like the [[Local churches (affiliation)|local churches]] movement, reflect the core teachings of traditional Christianity. Others however, such as [[The Way International]], have been denounced as cults by the [[Christian anti-cult movement]]. Further, others may have similar doctrine to mainline churches but incorporate a multi-faith and ecumenical model such as the Interfaith-Ecumenical Church (IEC) that is based entirely in a virtual and international model.

Two movements, which are entirely unrelated in their founding, but share a common element of an additional Messiah (or incarnation of Christ) are the [[Unification Church]] and the [[Rastafari movement]]. These movements fall outside of traditional [[Taxonomy (general)|taxonomies]] of Christian groups, though both cite the Christian Bible as a basis for their beliefs.

[[Syncretism]] of Christian beliefs with local and tribal religions is a phenomenon that occurs throughout the world. An example of this is the [[Native American Church]]. The ceremonies of this group are strongly tied to the use of [[peyote]]. (Parallels may be drawn here with the Rastafari [[Entheogen|spiritual use]] of [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]].) While traditions vary from tribe to tribe, they often include a belief in Jesus as a Native American cultural hero, an intercessor for man, or a spiritual guardian; belief in the Bible; and an association of Jesus with peyote.

There are also some Christians that reject organized religion altogether. Some [[Christian anarchism|Christian anarchists]]—often those of a Protestant background—believe that the [[Ministry of Jesus|original teachings of Jesus]] were corrupted by Roman statism (compare [[Early Christianity]] and [[State church of the Roman Empire]]), and that earthly authority such as government, or indeed the established Church, do not and should not have power over them. Following "[[Ethic of reciprocity|The Golden Rule]]", many oppose the use of physical force in any circumstance, and advocate [[nonviolence]]. The Russian novelist [[Leo Tolstoy]] wrote ''[[The Kingdom of God Is Within You]]'',<ref>[http://www.kingdomnow.org/withinyou.html Leo Tolstoy – The Kingdom of God is Within You] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205200941/http://www.kingdomnow.org/withinyou.html |date=2012-02-05 }}. Kingdomnow.org. Retrieved on 2010-11-03.</ref> and was a Christian anarchist.