Do you ever wonder what the difference is between one denomination and another? Why are there so many kinds of Baptist or Presbyterian or Lutheran churches? Where do those names come from, anyway? You can find answers in this concise but comprehensive guide. Learn about the leaders, teachings, and history of most of the church families in America. In addition to membership statistics, you'll find... a brief explanation of how the denomination began a short summary of its teaching on God, the Bible, the church, and other important topics a quick overview of some of its distinctive characteristics Whether you're looking for a new church or enriching your fellowship with believers from other traditions, you'll be much better prepared with this revised and expanded edition of The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations.

This comprehensive guide provides essential historical and contact information on over 800 Protestant and Catholic churches, ecumenical and cooperative associations, and para-church organizations in the U.S. and Canada.

The Handbook of Denominations in the United States has long been the gold standard for reference works about religious bodies in America. The purpose of this Handbook is to provide accurate and objective information about the most significant Christian traditions and denominations in the United States today. It contains descriptions of over 200 distinct Christian denominations as well as overviews of the several major Christian traditions to which they belong—based on shared historical and theological roots and commitments. The information for each denomination has been provided by the religious organizations themselves and focuses on the denominations' doctrines, statistics, and histories. The 14th edition is completely updated with current statistics, new denominations, and recent trends. The book has been made more useful and manageable by moving very small groups into broader articles while giving more detail and description to the large and influential denominations.

Choosing your Religion is a guide to Christian denominations in the U.S. It describes, in concise form, the distinct features, beliefs, practices, and origins of 18 faiths, most of which are fixtures in nearly every American town and city. While these churches are familiar to all, their differences are not commonly understood. An ideal resource for those re-evaluating, or considering church for the first time, the Book of Denominations allows readers to easily acquire the broadest possible view of the Christian religion by examining its many facets, its different denominations. It may also serve current churchgoers looking to learn more about their own faith. The book contains a wealth of information organized for the benefit of the inquiring reader. For each faith group presented, it answers questions such as: What do they believe? How did it start? How many people belong? How do they worship? The book also includes an overview of the Christian religion and a glossary of religious terms.

The expanded, updated edition of a classic reference source--the comprehensive survey of the status of thje world's largest religion in 238 countries. Many tables, charts, diagrams, maps, photographs, and a rich text present a unmatched look at 33,800 Christian denominations, 12,000 dioceses, 5,000 missions, and other groups--all -set against a detailed historical, political, social, cultural, demographic, background.

This book examines the state of Christianity in the United States, considering trends in religious beliefs and affiliation over the last forty years. It seeks to explain why so many of America’s largest denominations have witnessed such a dramatic decline during this period. It argues that, although there are many elements to this decline, the shrinking families of Americans—including American Christians—are a primary explanation for our aging and shrinking Christian congregations. Beyond establishing this explanation for organized decline, this book also offers a survey of the relevant research explaining why more and more Americans are deferring family formation and having fewer (in many cases, zero) children. It discusses the relevant social science research on this subject, which focuses heavily on the role of economic change. It also summarizes the relevant research on cultural change and the family, particularly the relationship between religious beliefs and activities and changing family norms.