Religious denomination

A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name,
tradition, and identity.

Major denominations and religions of the world.

The term refers to the various Christian denominations (for example, Eastern Orthodox, Roman
Catholic, and the many varieties of Protestantism). It is also used to describe the four major
branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist). Within Islam, it can
refer to the branches or sects (such as Sunni, Shia, and Ahmadiyya),[1][2] as well as their various
subdivisions such as sub-sects,[3] schools of jurisprudence,[4] schools of theology[5] and religious
movements.[6][7]
The world's largest religious denomination is Sunni Islam[8][9]or Roman Catholicism.[10]

hristianity[edit]
Main article: Christian denomination
For a more comprehensive list, see List of Christian denominations.
A Christian denomination is a generic term for a distinct religious body identified by traits such as a
common name, structure, leadership and doctrine. Individual bodies, however, may use alternative
terms to describe themselves, such as church or fellowship. Divisions between one group and
another are defined by doctrine and church authority; issues such as the nature of Jesus, the
authority of apostolic succession, eschatology, and papal primacy often separate one denomination
from another. Groups of denominations often sharing broadly similar beliefs, practices, and historical
ties are known as branches of Christianity.

Postchristianity[edit]
As Christianity ages, groups that once were simply heterodox and considered 'New Religious
Movements' have matured and developed identities (and often completely new religious texts) of
their own, separate and apart from mainstream Christianity of 'only' the Old and New Testaments
and trinitarianism, challenging the definition of Christian. These group maintain their own
denominational structure and hierarchy, and include but are not limited to Latter-Day
Saints, Unification, Unitarian Universalism. While maintaining a tenuous thread of a connection to
what was considered normative euro-american Christian religion of the 18th century, they can best
be described today as postchristian.[citation needed]

Hinduism[edit]
Further information: History of Hinduism and Hindu denominations

In Hinduism, the major deity or philosophical belief identifies a denomination, which also typically
has distinct cultural and religious practices. The major denominations
include Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism.

Islam[edit]
Further information: History of Islam and Muslim denominations
Historically, Islam was divided into three major sects well known as Sunni, Khawarij and Shī‘ah.
Nowadays, Sunnis constitute more than 85% of the overall Muslim population while the Shi'as are
slightly more than 12%.[11] Today, many of the Shia sects are extinct. The major surviving Imamah-
Muslim Sects are Usulism (with nearly more than 10%), Nizari Ismailism (with nearly more than
1%), Alevism (with slightly more than 0.5%[12] but less than 1%[13]). The other existing groups
include Zaydi Shi'a of Yemen whose population is nearly more than 0.5% of the world's Muslim
population, Musta’li Ismaili (with nearly 0.1%[14] whose Taiyabi adherents reside in Gujarat state
in India and Karachi city in Pakistan. There are also significant diaspora populations in Europe,
North America, the Far East and East Africa[15]), and Ibadis from the Kharijites whose population has
diminished to a level below 0.15%. On the other hand, new Muslim sects like African American
Muslims, Ahmadi Muslims[16] (with nearly around 1%[17]), non-denominational Muslims, Quranist
Muslims and Wahhabis (with nearly around 0.5%[18] of the world's total Muslim population) were later
independently developed.