zen_tom

Despite all drawing from the same source, Christianity contains numerous denominations.
Some of these are (in no particular order) Catholics, Methodists, Evangelicals, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Quakers, Mormons, Amish, Progressives, Seventh-Day Adventists, Unitarians, Universalists, Baptists, Scientists, Unificationists, Protestants, Pentecostals, Fundamentalists, Branch Davidians, Calvinists, Charismatics etc.

In my ignorance, I must admit to not knowing what the differences are between all of these, except perhaps general differences between Protestantism and Catholicism, but understand these to have been borne out of political differences (i.e. the rise of power in Northern Europe and the clash between their political ambitions and those of the Papacy) rather than ideological ones.

So what are the major differences between denominations, and how did they come about? Are they ideological, or histo-political?

Further, having drawn my own interpretations, what is stopping me from teaching these to anyone who might want to listen?

I realise that this is a Christo-centric question, but I am assuming (it would be interesting if I was wrong) that there are similar denominational splits in the other world religions, and that there are similar reasons for these splits (i.e. interpretation, canonisation of texts, political leanings etc)