Christian denomination
See also: Denominationalism, List of Christi-
an denominations, and Christian Church
A Christian denomination is an identifiable
religious body under a common name, struc-
ture, and doctrine within Christianity.
Worldwide, Christians are divided, often
along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separ-
ate churches and traditions. Technically, divi-
sions between one group and another are
defined by doctrine and church authority. Is-
sues such as the nature of Jesus, the author-
ity of apostolic succession, and papal primacy
separate one denomination from another.
Catholicism is the largest denomination,
comprising just over half of Christians world-
wide. Protestant denominations comprise
about 40% of Christians worldwide, and to-
gether the Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans,
and closely related denominations compose
Western Christianity. Eastern Orthodoxy,
largely Greek and Russian, and the much
smaller Oriental Orthodoxy are considered
Eastern Christianity. Western Christian de-
nominations prevail in Europe and its former
colonies. Eastern Christian denominations
are represented mostly in Eastern Europe
(including all of Russia), and the Near East.
Christians have various doctrines about
the Church, the body of faithful that they be-
lieve was established by Jesus Christ, and
how the divine church corresponds to Christi-
an denominations. Together both the Cathol-
ics and the Eastern Orthodox consider them-
selves to faithfully represent the One Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church. Protestants
separated from the Catholic Church theolo-
gies and practices that they considered not
based on fundamental Christian doctrine.
Generally, members of the various denomina-
tions acknowledge each other as Christians,
at least to the extent that they acknowledge
historically orthodox views including the
deity of Jesus and doctrines of sin and salva-
tion, even though some obstacles hinder full
communion between churches.
Since the reforms surrounding Vatican II,
the Catholic Church has referred to Protes