More on Denomination

Christian denominations have diverse views on creeds, acceptable behavior, and salvation. There are over 26,000 denominations and over 26,000 different ways to look at Christianity.

The word Christian is very abstract. There is no platonic ideal of what a Christian is. Some people say they are a Christian as opposed to Jewish or Muslim. Still, most people define Christianity by the congregation they belong to.

Within these denominations -- such as Anglican, Catholic, Evangelical, Unitarian, Mormon, Methodist -- hot-button issues like abortion, politics and the death penalty divide Christianity. The main points of contention are theological. These divide Christian congregations along issues of creeds, acceptable behavior and what may be the ultimate test: who will go to heaven.

For example, being a Catholic means something specific: You need to profess the faith that the church has historically professed, participate in the sacramental life of the church; and the church you attend must be in union with all other Catholic churches and the pope. The Catholic Church teaches that people are saved that are not professedly Christian. All those who attempt to lead a life according to the grace of God (are accepted).

Some Christians feel that the word Christian has been hijacked by fundamentalists. For many Christians, there is a journey of a personal relationship with God: The personal relationship with God has to be according to Scriptures. You've got to have the relationship. Then the relationship produces fruit and evidence -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and self-control.

That personal relationship may be strengthened by communal or group worship, which one of the ways of justifying different denominations and different congregations. But for a Christian, entrance into heaven, is independent of his or her congregation and whether or not one performs good works. Christians believe all people sin, and that Jesus died on the cross to cover that sin. Surprisingly, for many Christians the main item in their psyche is "It's not good works, it's believing in Jesus that gets us to heaven." For some rationalist Christians and most non-Christians, this is a central reason why Christianity is unacceptable as a literal faith for them.

But not all Christian denominations are considered equally valid. Some, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mormons, are classified as cults. Many accept the definition of a cult as a group that claims exclusive revelation and is difficult to exit. Unlike most Christian faiths that believe the New Testament was God's last revelation on earth, Mormons believe God has continued to speak.

The followers of the Unitarian Church describe their faith as a 'a bit of an anomaly'. They have no creed. They covenant to b