Determining the number of Christian denominations is a virtually impossible task. Though the numbers of known denominations can be easily traced, even for the more obscure offshoots of the main denominations, there are always going to be small pockets of believers who prescribe to the Christian doctrines in their own unique way. Therefore, the best historians can do is track down the basic denominations and make it clear that there are many branches that lead away from those most basic congregations.

Most Christian denominations are considered as such because they believe in the basic tenants of Christianity, including the Bible, the Trinity, and the Nicene Creed. The most common denominations in Christianity came into being in the 500 years since the Protestant revolution, with the exception of a few. Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant are the major denominations from which other denominations formed.

What are the most common? You probably know someone who follows one of these, or you might follow one of them yourself:

Roman Catholic has over one million followers and is considered to be one of the oldest Christian religions.
Amish are known for their strict beliefs, their tendency to live away from others of differing beliefs, and their determination to avoid modern technology.
Baptists are one of the largest denominations and are known for baptism (as the name suggests) as well as their desire for a firm separation of church and state.
Lutheran is based on the teachings of Martin Luther and is a very large denomination.
Eastern Orthodox is prominent in Germany, Russia, and other eastern countries, though it is becoming more common throughout the world.
Anglican is considered the middle ground between Protestants and Catholics.
Protestant is a wide-ranging denomination that includes several different beliefs and smaller denominations.
Presbyterian and Reformation are two denominations that base their beliefs on the teachings of John Calvin.
Seventh-day Adventists are known for their strict observance of the Sabbath and their emphasis on physical health.

Many “spin off” religions were borne of these main denominations, such as the Primitive Baptist, the Pentecostal, and other religions that have a smaller following but offer powerful teachings nonetheless.

Many people know of Hare Krishna as a chant that schoolchildren use to frighten each other on dark, stormy nights. But Hare Krishna, though often misunderstood, has its roots in peace and goodness.

Founded in 1965 in San Francisco and New York, Hare Krishna adheres to many beliefs of Hinduism. The central practices of Hare Krishna include celibacy, vegetarianism, chanting, evangelism, and abstinence from drugs and alcohol. With an official 250,000 devotees and 10,000 dedicated members, the Hare Krishna religion is steadily growing. Some estimates put the worldwide member total at over one million.

The movement began in 1510 with Sri Krishna Caitanya, who showed his devotion and spiritual happiness through song and dance. The joyous aura he projected made people curious to have the same happiness, and several disciples based their beliefs and teachings on the evidence of Caitanya’s joy, believing that he was the manifestation of higher gods. In 1965, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness was founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who soon set about a board of governors to help him maintain the movement. Though Prabhupada passed away in 1977, his disciples have kept the movement alive.

Most members of Hare Krishna follow the teachings and practices while living a normal work and home life. These are known as Congregational members. They attend temples to worship among other followers. Those who have dedicated their life to Hare Krishna are known as temple-based members, and live their life according to several rules, including:

- the consumption of no meat, fish, or eggs
- no alcohol or drugs, including caffeine and nicotine
- no gambling of any kind
- celibacy except for the purposes of procreation within the bonds of marriage

They dress in white or saffron robes. Men shave their heads with the exception of a topknot, and women are permitted to wear vivid, bright saris. The religion is a joyous one, which often includes singing and dancing, as well as chanting the beads of a rosary in order to clear the mind and better reach for enlightenment.

Find any Jewish celebration, and you are bound to find wonderful food to accompany it. Some foods are prepared in a traditional style, all of which goes back to certain Scriptures that call for that preparation.

For instance, the prohibition of making fire on the Sabbath has led to the use of slow cooking stews in many times of Jewish cuisine. The Jewish people have long held their traditions firmly in place while learning to savor many of the same foods as their gentile neighbors.

In ancient times, certain foods were considered more desirable than others. Those includes legumes, wild plants, wheat, barley, olives, dates, pomegranate, figs, grapes, and mutton. Today, these foods are still popular additions to the Jewish plate, but other foods have crept in as well, depending upon the area in which a Jewish person was raised.

Bagels, Knishes, and Borscht are all foods that were eaten by Jewish people in Europe and Russia. The people there were often very poor, and the foods reflect a simple style. In the United States, some Jewish staples include Matzah balls, gefilte fish, falfalel, and hummus.

Kashrut is the rule of Jewish law that says what can and cannot be eaten. Animals with cloven hooves and those that chew their cud are forbidden, and those animals that are allowed for eating must be slaughtered and prepared in the kosher way. All blood must be drained, and certain parts of the animal are not suitable for eating. All fruits and vegetables must be examined carefully for bugs, as bugs are not allowed to be eaten.

Meat, including the flesh of both animals and birds, cannot be eaten with dairy products. Even utensils that have been used in meat products cannot then be used in dairy products. There must be at least six hours between the consumption of dairy products and meat products, though some prefer to rinse the mouth with water and eat a piece of neutral bread to stand in for the waiting period.

Anything that has fins and scales can be eaten, but shellfish cannot. Since wine was often used in pagan rituals, grape products that are not created by Jews are deemed inappropriate. This also includes baking powders made with cream of tartar, which is a leavening created as a by-product of the wine-making process.

Keeping kosher can be a difficult thing to do, so many Jews compromise. They might keep kosher at home, but relax their standards when they are in a restaurant. Some adhere to kosher rules when ordering from a menu. Still, others stay very traditional and don’t order foods unless they are prepared in a kosher restaurant, while even that is not acceptable to those who stay the most traditional. In that case, most foods are made in the home, and only foods consumed in Jewish gatherings are permitted.

Many religions have rules about what foods should be eaten, and what foods should not be. In Islam, everything in life is connected to faith, including the foods you choose to put into your body.

Muslims should never eat to excess, and only eat when they are hungry. Any animal that is slaughtered should be slaughtered under the name of Allah, in a prayerful manner. Always remember those who are hungry, and feed them if you can. This includes not only humans, but animals as well.

Pray to Allah before eating, and give thanks afterward. Put only food in your body that have been approved by the scriptures. Chicken, fish, olive oil, healthy meats, and honey are especially recommended. Any fruits or vegetables that have been grown in the natural way and are unprocessed are also highly recommended.

What should Muslims avoid? Any meat that has been slaughtered in a way not consist with Islamic practice should be avoided. Never eat anything that comes from a pig, including lard. Gelatine, commonly used to make Jello, should be avoided if the gelatine came from an animal that was not considered clean. If an animal died before slaughter, the meat cannot be prepared for human consumption. Also, carnivorous animals or birds of prey should never be eaten.

Any form of blood, such as that found in a very rare steak, is not to be eaten. Any form of alcohol, even those used in cooking, should be avoided as well. In fact, Muslims are encouraged to avoid establishments that sell alcohol, and should not sit at a table where alcohol is being served.

Keep in mind that some additives are not approved as well. Usually, those additives that begin with an “E” on the label are from animals that have not been slaughtered in the approved way.

If you are not of the Islamic religion, it is important to follow the guidelines concerning Islam and food when you are with Muslim guests. Be careful to prepare only foods you know are alright for them to eat, and if you are in doubt, always ask!

Respect for the life of everyone, including the life of animals, has long been a central theme in Hinduism. Though some Hindus might have eaten the meat of the cow in ancient times, today the cow is revered as a sacred animal. Mahatma Gandhi once wrote, “If someone were to ask me what the most outward manifestation of Hinduism was, I would suggest that it was the idea of cow protection.”

Though there is no clear basis for worshiping the cow, the mention is often made in Hindu scripture. Lord Krishna, one of the most important people in Hindu texts, was said to be a cowherd. In fact, one of his holy names is “Govinda,” which translates to “one who brings satisfaction to the cows.” The thought of the cow providing milk and nourishment to nations is also a reason why the animal is now considered sacred.

Cows in India are often allowed to roam free. This religious practice has bumped into some serious problems, as over 40,000 cows are allowed to roam the streets of India. In heavily populated places such as New Delhi, the cows can cause traffic jams, rip open garbage in neighborhood trash cans, and injure themselves while wandering about. Many places have compromised and employed “cow catchers” to load the cows into transport vans and take them to a sanctuary or preserve outside of the cities, where they will be cared for throughout their lives.

However, the cow catchers — or anyone else, for that matter — must be very careful not to injure the cow in any way, as injuring or killing a cow is a significant offense in the Hindu religion. In fact, doing just the opposite is preferred: offering food to the cow, such as bits of bread or fruit, is considered good luck.

In addition to the living, breathing cows who are revered by so many in India and other countries, Hindu temples often feature statues and other icons that depict the cow. For instance, Nandhi the Bull is considered a protector, and a small image of him is often found near or in temples and altars.

The love of the cow has become so deeply ingrained in Hindu culture that the government has championed pro-cow legislation, and is even considering outlawing butchers in the cities, out of a desire to ensure that all cows in the country are safe.

Vatican City, or the Vatican, is a sovereign city-state located in Rome, Italy. It is surrounded by walls, and has a population of about 800 people. The Vatican sits on about 110 acres and is home to the Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church.

Vatican City came into existence in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, which spoke of Vatican City as a new creation, and not as a reminder of the Papal States that were previously in central Italy. But for hundreds of years before the Vatican was created, Popes lived in the area where the Vatican now stands. Before 1377, Popes resided on Caelian Hill, on the opposite side of Rome.

A full half of Vatican City is filled with gardens, consisting of priceless works of art, fountains, and sculptures. Vatican City also holds several properties scattered about Rome and Italy, and those are openly shared with the public. St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, various museums, and St. Peter’s Square are all features of Vatican City. The Apostolic Palace, in Vatican City, is the residence of the Pope.

The Pope has complete control over Vatican City in one of the world’s few non-hereditary monarchies. The Vatican is one of the few countries who is not a member of the United Nations; rather, it remains a permanent observer state, neutral to conflict. Because of the small size of Vatican City, it is one of the few countries that cannot host a foreign embassy.

Vatican City has its own police force, known as the Corpo della Gendarmeria. This police force handles all criminal investigations, law enforcement, public order, traffic control, and the like. Vatican City also has its own bank, it’s own currency, and is a non-commercial state, sustained only by the sale of postage stamps, periodicals, museum admissions, and tourist mementos.

The Vatican Library and the Vatican Museum contain what is considered some of the rarest, most priceless items in world history. Under the Hague convention, the works of art in Vatican City are protected in the event of armed conflict — meaning that to destroy or damage them is considered an international crime.

But Vatican City is looking forward as well — soon it will become the first carbon-neutral nation in the world, offsetting the carbon footprint by the growth of sustainable forests, and setting an example for the rest of the modernized world.

Vatican City is currently home to Pope Benedict XVI, and it the site of pilgrimages for not only Catholics, but those who are interested in the history of the Catholic Church and the priceless works of art it has collected over the centuries.

Many religions look to holy sites to remember and honor their history. These sites might be churches, temples, ruins of ancient buildings that were associated with the religion, or places where momentous events happened. For instance, Christians look to Jerusalem as a holy area, because that’s where Jesus walked. Muslims look to Mecca as their holiest of places. For those who follow the Buddhist religion, one of the holiest places is Lumbini, where Buddha was born.

Lumbini is in the foothills of the Himalayas, in what is now Nepal. At the time of Buddha’s birth, the area was a large green space, covered with gardens and trees. The area was owned by the Kolias and Shakyas clans; King Suddhodana, the father of Gautama Buddha, was of the Shakyas dynasty.

Maya Devi, the mother of Buddha, was traveling to her parents’ home in Devadaha when she paused to rest in Lumbini. She felt labor pains while there, and soon she gave birth to her son under the drooping branches of the Sal tree. The birth happened in May of 642 B.C.

Over time, the small area of Lumbini became a lively, productive village. In 249 B.C., Emperor Ashoka visited the village and erected a monument to Buddha and his mother. The monument included a stone pillar with an inscription testifying to the royal and holy meaning of the place. Later, the temple of Maya Devi was built in the same area.

But over time, Lumbini fell into disrepair, and later into neglect. The once thriving village disappeared, and left only ruins in its passing. In 1895, German archaeologist Feuhrer discovered the great pillar among ruins, and an excavation began. Others parts of the monument were discovered, and the holy meaning of the area became clear to a new generation of Buddhists.

Excavations soon revealed much more. The temple of Maya Devi was still there, as was the sacred bathing pool nearby, where it is believed Maya Devi bathed before giving birth to the Buddha. In 1996, archaeologists uncovered a “flawless stone” that had been set in the area to mark the precise location of Buddha’s birth.

Since the discoveries, several beautiful shrines have been built nearby, and the once-neglected village has become a haven for those seeking peace, tranquility, and spiritual enlightenment.

In the town of Bethany, Lazarus was very sick. His sisters sent word to Jesus that their brother’s health was failing, and asked him to come. But instead of rushing to the town and helping Lazarus, Jesus took his time in getting there. He knew there was to be a great miracle, and he didn’t have to rush.

When he did arrive at the gates of the town, Jesus was met by Martha, who told him that Lazarus had already died, four days earlier. She asked him why he had not come? If he had been there, Lazarus would still be alive. “Your brother will rise again,” he told her, but she assumed Jesus meant he would go on to eternal life.

Jesus went on: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Grieved, Martha went back home.

Mary was the next to come, and she asked the same questions. She was weeping and terribly upset over her brother’s death. Those who were with her were weeping as well, and Jesus cried with them. He asked to see the tomb of Lazarus, and all the mourners led him there. Then he asked them to remove the stone that covered the hillside tomb. The sisters protested, but Jesus was adamant that the tomb be opened.

Jesus prayed to His Father, and when he was finished, he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

Lazarus came out of the tomb, and as he did so, Jesus simply asked the shocked mourners to remove the grave clothes. The shock of seeing a man rise from the dead was more than enough to turn everyone into believers that day.

The important message in the rising of Lazarus is the simple belief that Jesus will do what he says he will do. Sometimes a situation will go from bad to worse, and you might wonder why Jesus hasn’t responded to your prayers. But the answer will come, and at a time that will bring the greatest glory to God. We must simply be patient and wait for the moment when it is all made right.

In the gospel of Matthew and Luke is the story of Mary and her husband, Joseph, who were the parents of Jesus. Jesus was sent to Mary by God, and asked to bear him as her own child. Mary and Joseph were in the town of Bethlehem when it was time to give birth, but they could find no room in any of the inns in the town. Therefore, they did the best they could, and found a stable in which to find protection from the elements. There, Mary gave birth to Jesus, wrapped him in clothes, and placed him in a manger.

The birth of Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and set in motion all the things that would come in the three decades afterward, including all the teachings of Jesus, leading up to his death and promise to rise again.

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in most corners of the world, and is designated as the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Some places celebrate Christmas on January 7th, in keeping with different calendars. Some even celebrate Christmas in July, in the belief that the date of conception happened nine months prior. Some believe that the date of Christmas was a random date chosen to mark the Winter Solstice. Regardless of when it is celebrated, the reason for the celebration is clear.

The tradition of a Christmas tree in the house actually began in Roman times, when trees were brought into homes for protection from the elements during the harshest weather. Pagan traditions of decorating trees soon became adapted to Christmas rituals, and so did the hanging of the lights. Centuries ago, European countries began celebrating Christmas by decorating their homes with anything green — evergreen boughs, pine needles, and ivy were popular options. It was believed that green denoted life, even in the cold and dreary winters, and was seen as a fitting way to honor the season.

Regardless of the date Christmas is celebrated or the way in which it is observed, there is no doubt that the birth of Jesus is the reason for the season.

During the end of November or early December, Hanukkah begins. It happens on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. The word “Hanukkah” means “Rededication,” and is meant to remember the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC, after the Jewish soldiers wrestled it back from the Syrian-Greek soldiers.

The Jewish troops were determined to cleanse the temple by burning ritual oil for eight days. However, when they looked at the oil in the temple, they were dismayed to see only enough for one day. They lit the oil anyway, and to their surprise and delight, the oil burned for the full eight days, even though there should not have been enough.

The miracle of the oil is represented today by the lighting of the Menorah. On the first night, one candle is lit. On the second night, two candles, and so on, until the final night sees all eight candles burning bright. The candles should be lit at sundown or as close to sundown as possible, and positioned so that passersby can see the lights and remember the miracle.

The traditional placement is outside the front door and to the left, but that might not be feasible in all places. Another option is to place the Menorah in a windowsill, but if that isn’t possible, place the Menorah on a table in the center of the room, to declare the miracle to those who are in the household.

Since the Jewish holiday falls so close to Christmas, in many countries Hanukkah has become a bit more secular. Sometimes children are given small gifts, one for every night of Hanukkah, to celebrate the season and the miracle. Even though the gifts were not part of original traditions, many of the original games and foods are still presented during Hanukkah. The miracle of oil calls for the eating of fried foods during the holiday, and the spinning of the Driedel, a classic Jewish game, is often played during the nights when the Menorah burns.

Interestingly, Hanukkah is one of the lesser holidays, according to Jewish law. But the proximity of Hanukkah to Christmas has made it more of an event than it was in centuries past.