According to the Center for the Study of World Christianity, there are over 635 Christian denominations in the United States alone (Wilson, p.145). Why are there such a diverse number of faiths all coming from the same foundation, from one religion? How and why did the Christian Church divide into denominations in the first place? Ted A. Campbell, assistant professor of church history at Duke University, explains denominations this way: "...those who eventually created new denominations did not decide to do so...Instead of that, the denominations are, on the whole, formal and formal. end results of various theological/social/political/ecclesial movements that took shape over many years, even decades” (Campbell, pp. 33-35). Each branch of Christianity comes from a different idea or belief regarding an individual or group of people's interpretation of Scripture and/or its application. The churches of the first century evolved from the apostles traveling from city to city and country to country, developing Christianity and meeting in their homes. As these house churches grew in number and distance, the understanding and application of the apostles' teachings began to differ. People's language, culture and traditions have impacted their understanding and practice of these Christian principles. This is how the first foundations of confessionalism began. The first true, organized Christian “denominations” occurred in 1054 CE, when what is known as the Western-Eastern Schism, or the Great Schism, occurred. This schism, or split, in the Church occurred after many years of disagreements between the Roman Church, which ruled Western Christianity, and the Church of Constantinople, which ruled the Eastern (Greek) church bodies. The Great Schism caused...... middle of paper ......ld. November 1, 2004: researcher on np SIRS issues. Internet. November 25, 2013. “Roman Catholic.” Toucan Valley Religions Around the World. November 1, 2004: researcher on np SIRS issues. Internet. November 26, 2013. Campbell, Ted A. “The New Wesley Naming.” Christianity today. March 11, 1991: 33-35. Researcher on SIRS issues. Internet. November 24, 2013 Daniels, Roger. “Eastern Orthodox Churches.” American Immigration: A Student Companion. December 1, 2001: researcher on np SIRS issues. Internet. December 16, 2013 Flatt, Lizann. Religions during the Renaissance. St. Catharines, Ontario: Crabtree Pub., 2009. Print. “Major Christian Denominations.” The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2013. January 1, 2013: 706+. Researcher on SIRS issues. Internet. November 25, 2013. ProQuest Staff. “Timeline of Religion”. Chronology of the main questions. 2013: researcher on np SIRS issues. Internet. November 24, 2013. Wilson, Mike, ed. Christianity. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven, 2008. Print.