Are you sure you're following the True Christianity?

I looked up how many denominations of just Christianity there are in the US. The answer was:

There is no single, definitive number for Christian denominations in the United States, as it depends on the classification, but sources suggest there are over 200, with some estimates as high as 1,500 sects and even thousands of denominations if smaller groups are included.

When I look up how many churches in the US, it says:

There are an estimated 350,000 to 380,000 churches in America, with figures often fluctuating based on new data and different counting methods. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research places the number of congregations around 370,000, with the majority being Protestant.
Estimates: Various sources provide slightly different numbers, but most fall in the range of 350,000 to 380,000 congregations.

Distribution: A single congregation for every 1,000 Americans is a rough estimate, but the distribution varies significantly by region and population growth.

Given that each individual church relies on the pastor or minister and their interpretation of the Bible and what they want to focus on, that could mean that every church is its own sect. While they may share main base ideology, the interpretation is up to each leader of that church. You can easily say that at least 70% of those 350,000+ churches are their own sect.

So are you sure you are following the "True Doctrine" ™?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

thepeculiarpanda · 36-40, M

I walked away from religion as soon as I was able to. My parents really messed up my life and my siblings' lives by chasing religion around the world instead of actually making sure we were okay.

FoxyQueen · 51-55, F

@thepeculiarpanda Sounds kinda culty. I'm sorry you dealt with religious trauma, but glad yoi are free from the cause.

thepeculiarpanda · 36-40, M

@FoxyQueen It very much was. They dragged us all to a religious college campus for two years when I was 9 and then we moved around for the next seven years while dad pastored churches in various places. We ended up about five miles from where we started.

They were also both really abusive with me when I was a kid. My siblings got spared that but they remember me being beaten.

FoxyQueen · 51-55, F

@thepeculiarpanda it amazes me how much religion can really screw up people's minds with their tactics. Things they would have never considered in their right minds gets put aside because the leader is claiming it is all okay in the eyes of God.

I have been learning about cults for at least 3 years. The majority of cults are based in and deeply steeped in Christianity. The things done to people in these cults are inhumane and truly horrible. I can't help but think that Christianity with all its brutality and contradictions in the Old Testament make it so easy to exploit and use for power.

Are your parents still in it?

thepeculiarpanda · 36-40, M

@FoxyQueen Me too. I never believed in any of it. They were always saying such pretty words while simultaneously being the most miserable, unkind people I had ever met.

Mom passed away about a month and a half ago and it seems to have driven my dad even deeper into it. My siblings and I have all been getting these weird, preachy text messages from him every day and it seems like he's definitely falling down the rabbit hole again.

FoxyQueen · 51-55, F

@thepeculiarpanda That isn't too uncommon. He has formed a deep community there and they are more than likely lovebombing him with support which will drag him deeper in.

I'm sorry for your loss.