Why are there so many Christian denominations?

In this episode of the Denison Forum Podcast, Dr. Mark Turman is joined by Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Ryan Denison for a thoughtful conversation on the history and diversity within the Christian faith. Together, they explore the key moments that shaped the church, including the Great Schism, the Protestant Reformation, and Vatican II. They also discuss the rise of non-denominational churches and what it looks like to find a faithful church home in today’s landscape.

This conversation offers both clarity and encouragement for Christians navigating differences in doctrine and tradition—and reminds us why unity in Christ still matters.

Topics

• (01:21): Personal story and introduction to denominations
• (03:43): The conclave and selection of a new pope
• (11:32): The Great Schism: East vs. West
• (20:26): The Protestant Reformation and its impact
• (26:05): Magisterial vs. Radical reformers
• (32:20): Baptism and church membership challenges
• (33:45): The impact of Vatican II
• (40:36): Modern denominational differences
• (51:25): Non-denominational churches: A new trend
• (55:17): Finding unity in diversity
• (01:04:47): Guidance for finding a new church
• (01:08:47): Conclusion

Resources

• Ask Us Anything: [e-mail]
• ​​The funeral of Pope Francis and the papal conclave to follow
• Why I hope you won’t see “Conclave”
• What is the Synod on Synodality?
• Why are there so many denominations in Christianity? • DF
• How has Denison Forum impacted your faith?
• Who Am I? Identity • Denison Forum
• Subscribe to The Daily Article by Dr. Jim Denison

About Dr. Jim Denison

Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.

About Dr. Ryan Denison

Ryan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and coauthored Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}