Are All Churches Denominations The Seeds Of Catholicism?

The question of whether all churches are simply “denominations” touches the very roots of Christian identity, authority, and historical continuity. To explore this subject, one must trace the seeds of Catholicism — the claim of being the original, universal church — and contrast it with the later rise of denominationalism.

Catholicism presents itself not as a denomination among many, but as the mother church, tracing its lineage back to the apostles and the early councils. The word catholic itself means “universal,” suggesting a claim to wholeness rather than division.