How Many?!
The World Christian Encyclopedia (David A. Barrett; Oxford University Press, 1982) estimated there are almost 21,000 Christian denominations, and the updated World Christian Encyclopedia (Barrett, Kurian, Johnson; Oxford Univ Press, 2nd edition, 2001) estimated at least 33,000. “Denomination” is defined as “an organized Christian group within a country.” The Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary estimated 34,000 denominations in 2000, rising to an estimated 43,000 in 2012. These numbers have exploded from 1,600 in the year 1900. List several reasons why Christianity is so fractured. One reason to consider is differing methods (literal, symbolic, etc.) of interpretation of various parts and books in scripture (the Bible).
