Christian Denominations Trivia Quiz

Answer: Episcopal

The Church of England, or Anglican Church, was also planted in the English colonies. In the United States, it became known as the Episcopal Church, and even today Episcopals are sometimes referred to as Anglicans. In colonial times, the Episcopal Church achieved a status almost akin to that of an established church in both Maryland and Virginia.

Answer: Church of the Brethren

This baptismal practice earned the Brethren the nickname of "Dunkards."

Answer: Churches of Christ

The Church of Christ (or Churches of Christ) broke off from the Disciples of Christ in the early 1900's. This happened because some believers objected to the use of musical instruments in worship and to the formation of mission societies. Members of the Churches of Christ do not consider themselves to be members of a denomination, and they refer to themselves simply as Christians.

The United Church of Christ is not related to the Churches of Christ; rather, it resulted from a merger of the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

It is considerably more ecumenical than the Churches of Christ.

Answer: The Shakers

Ann Lee, while imprisoned, claimed to have experienced a revelation that she was the Second Coming of Christ. The Shakers originally splintered off from the Quakers, and were even known as the "Shaking Quakers," but their unique beliefs caused them to become an entirely separate denomination.

The Shakers are celibates and rarely admit new members; consequently only two Shaker communities survive today. (Source and further information: http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/Shakers.html)

Answer: The Quakers

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) stresses the presence of the "Inner Light," which they believe guides men and women into deeper understanding of God.

Answer: Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)

In 1845, the title of this denomination became "The Churches of God in North America."

Answer: Disciples of Christ

The Disciples of Christ also refer to themselves as The Christian Church, and they are involved in numerous ecumenical efforts.

Answer: The Presbyterians

The founder of Presbyterianism is generally considered to be John Knox, who brought Calvin's teachings to Scotland. Ann Lee is credited with founding the Shakers (at least, it became a distinct denomination under her leadership), and Mary Baker Eddy is the founder of the Christian Scientists. There were several founders of the Seventh-day Adventists church, including Ellen Harmon (Ellen White), and also influenced by Rachel Oakes Preston.

Answer: The Methodist

Calvinists teach that God predestines only "the elect" to be saved and that His grace cannot be rejected. This view is part of the official creed of the Presbyterian churches. Arminians, on the other hand, teach that individuals have free will and can choose whether to accept or reject the gift of salvation. John Wesley, in condemning the doctrine of predestination, preached, "You represent God as worse than the devil--more false, more cruel, more unjust..."

Answer: Church of Christ, Scientist

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, writes: "The only reality of sin, sickness, or death is the awful fact that unrealities seem real to human, erring belief...They are not true, because they are not of God." She says also that "so-called" diseases are caused by a "mental, a mortal fear, a mistaken belief or conviction of the necessity and power of ill-health." Finally, she concludes, "Through immortal Mind, or Truth, we can destroy all ills which proceed from mortal mind."

Answer: Baptist

A liturgy is a set order of worship, with prescribed rites, readings, and prayers. There are many similarities between the liturgies of the Catholic, Episcopalian, and Lutheran Churches. Although Baptists often share common patterns of worship, most do not have a lectionary, a liturgy, or official, written creeds.

Answer: Seventh Day Adventists

Adventists emphasizes the second coming of Christ. The founders of the SDA church were Millerites who expected the second coming of Christ would occur on October 22, 1844.

Answer: Baptist

The Episcopalian and Lutheran churches have both, at one time or another, been state churches. A major factor distinguishing the Baptists from these other three denominations is a belief in baptism by immersion only of adults (or youth).

Answer: Churches of Christ

The Churches of Christ consider this doctrine to be unbiblical. The term "original sin" is nowhere found in the Bible, but those who support it cite scriptural evidence from Luke 11:13, Romans 7, and 1 John 5:19, among other verses.

Answer: Lutheran

Lutherans teach that the "real presence" of Jesus Christ coexists in, under, and with the elements of the Eucharist. Before Lutheranism, the Roman Catholics had previously allowed only the priest to drink the wine. The Lutherans introduced presenting the elements to all worshippers.

Answer: Presbyterian

The classis is more commonly known as a presbytery, and the presbyteries in turn belong to synods. The Methodist and Lutheran churches are more clearly hierarchical in structure, and the Baptist churches are not governed by synods, though they are a part of various voluntary organizations and conventions.

Answer: Methodist

Wesley was a member of the Anglican Church. Not until after his death did his followers split off from the Church of England.

Answer: Jehovah's Witnesses

Charles Russell founded the group in 1872. After his death, the group split into what were called the Russellites and what are today known as the Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses regard their practices as being modeled on primitive Christianity. Their presence is perhaps best known to the world through their Watch Tower Bible tracts.

Answer: Mennonite

The Mennonites emphasize adult baptism (as opposed to infant baptism), and for this reason, they were called Anabaptists in Switzerland.

Answer: The National Baptist Convention of America

The Nation of Islam does consist largely of black Americans, but it is not a Christian denomination. Rather, it combines components of the religion of Islam with a series of unique practices and beliefs. The Southern Baptist Convention has black members, of course, but they do not constitute the majority.

The National Baptist Convention, however, primarily has African American members. According to the Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, seven out of eight black Americans who claim affiliation with a denomination are either Baptist or Methodist.

Answer: The Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church has not attempted to "restore" the primitive church, but rather sees itself as the historical continuation of that church. From a Catholic perspective, the primitive church was never corrupted and does not need restoring. Many groups, however, believe that the authentic Christian church died out sometime in the 2nd or 3rd century, and they see themselves as returning to the true roots of Christianity.

Answer: Christadelphians

Christadelphians do not believe in the pre-existence of Christ. They teach that hell is equivalent with destruction (rather than eternal torment). They believe themselves to be returning to the beliefs of the early Christians, before the solidification of doctrine at the Council of Nicea.

Answer: Messianic Jews

This was probably closer to Jesus's real name. "Jesus" is an Anglicization of a Greek form of his Jewish name. Messianic Jews and conservative Christians have many beliefs in common, though many Messianic Jews continue to keep the Jewish law.

Answer: Eastern Orthodox Church

There are three other Patriarchs in Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. The Eastern Orthodox Church began to divide from the Roman Catholic Church in the 5th century AD. There are Eastern Orthodox churches in North America, but the denomination is most widespread in countries such as Russia, Greece, and Serbia.

Answer: The Unitarian Universalist Church

This statistic is according to http://www.religioustolerance.org/u-u.htm. The Unitarian Church does not demand any uniform belief from its members.