The following article was obtained through the website, Family Minded, and written by Brittany Alexandra Sulc.
Christianity has been the largest religion in the U.S. since day one. According to the latest studies conducted by Pew Research Center, roughly 70 percent of today's U.S. population identifies as one Christian denomination or another.
While every Christian denomination believes in God and the teachings of Jesus, each one has its own unique traditions, methods of worship and philosophy. Although more Americans identify as non-religious than ever before, these seven branches of Christianity are still the most widely practiced.
Note: The practicing percentage comes from a 2014 Pew Research Center study that polled about 35,000 people.
7. Orthodox Christian
Percent practicing in the U.S.: 0.5%
Estimated population: 1.5 million
Orthodox Christianity encompasses a few denominations, including the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America. All branches share a similar philosophy: that the Christian Faith and the Church are so interconnected that it's impossible to embrace one without the other. The traditions of the Orthodox Church are essential to the understanding and practice of Orthodox Christianity.
The Orthodox Church also teaches that the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father, while Catholics and Protestants believe the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son (Jesus Christ). Another key difference is that Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Day on Jan. 7 rather than Dec. 25.
6. Jehovah's Witness
Jehovah's Witnesses, unlike most other Christian denominations in the U.S., believe in a singular God called Jehovah, as opposed to the Holy Trinity (God, the Son and Holy Spirit). Jehovah's Witnesses also believe that the world's end will soon come. They don't celebrate most holidays, including birthdays, and they don't celebrate religious holidays with any pagan origins. This includes Christmas and Easter. Another reason they don't celebrate Christmas is that there's no definitive proof that Jesus was born on Dec. 25.
Jehovah's Witnesses also don't believe in getting blood transfusions, and followers are encouraged to avoid close relationships with people of other faiths. Many also discourage pursuing higher education. Additionally, they believe Satan is responsible for human corruption on Earth, leading people astray via governments, businesses and media. They also believe that when someone dies, they stop existing entirely.
5. Mormon
The highest population density of Mormons in the U.S. is in Utah. Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon was set in North America and that Christ was resurrected in the Western Hemisphere. They also believe the Garden of Eden was in North America. Unlike other Christian denominations in the U.S., they don't believe in the Holy Trinity, viewing God the Father as more significant than Jesus.
Mormons also believe that every person has a life before birth in a spirit realm shared with God. After death, their soul returns to this realm to be later resurrected. They also believe in three kingdoms of glory that people are sent to based on whether they followed the Gospel, didn't follow it or disavowed it entirely.
4. Historically Black Protestant
Percent practicing in the U.S.: 6.5%
Estimated population: 21 million
Over half of Black adults in the U.S. identify as members of the historically Black Protestant tradition. This encompasses seven different denominations: the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the Church of God in Christ, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and three National Baptist Conventions, plus those who identify as non-denominational Protestants.
Black Americans are more likely than the overall American public to identify as Protestant, especially among older generations. The reason Black Protestants are listed in their own category is because there are strong belief trends that differ from that of Mainline Protestants due to the complicated history of race relations and socioeconomic status in the U.S. They're more likely to identify as Democrats than white Protestants as well as to vote pro-choice.
3. Mainline Protestant
There are several Protestant denominations in the U.S., but the Mainline Protestant denomination is the second most common and encompasses the original "seven sisters of American Protestantism," including American Baptist Churches USA, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church.
Compared to their Evangelical counterparts, Mainline Protestants tend to be more politically moderate, focusing on solving economic gaps and social issues with a more liberal mindset. Most of them also have a modern theological take on Christianity, viewing the Bible as a historical document that should be interpreted based on the realities of current human existence, and they're known for having a more flexible viewpoint on the process of salvation. They do believe that following the teachings of Jesus is the way to salvation, but many also believe that people outside the faith may have access to salvation as well, via good deeds and God's grace.
2. Catholic
Estimated population: 70 million
The Catholic Church has been active in the U.S. since the colonial era, thanks to Spanish, French and Mexican influences. The number of Catholics in the U.S. rose in the mid- and late-1800s when Catholic immigrants flocked from Germany, Ireland and other parts of Europe.
The most notable differences between Catholicism and other Christian denominations include the beliefs in the importance of the Virgin Mary, saints and the Pope. Catholics also follow strong traditions, like the practice of taking communion after being officially welcomed as a full-fledged members of the faith by receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Those who identify as Catholic in the U.S., however, vary widely in personal beliefs. Some are very devout, attending mass weekly and practicing Catholicism in a literal sense. Others were born into Catholic families and were baptized but don't actively practice it as adults.
1. Evangelical Protestant
Evangelical Protestants take the Bible the most seriously. They believe it's the true word of God and that having a personal relationship with Jesus is required for salvation. The word "evangelical" comes from Greek roots meaning "the gospel" or "the good news." Evangelical faith revolves around the good news brought to sinners by Jesus Christ, bringing hope for salvation. Being "born again" is a big part of their belief, stressing that members need to go through a conversion process to truly reject their sins.
Generally, Evangelical Protestant church services are divided into multiple parts, including a sermon, congregational singing and the practice of intercessory prayer — praying on behalf of another. Interestingly, this Protestant denomination loses fewer followers to atheism and agnosticism than many others.
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