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Validating Protestant Denominational Classifications Using the Chaves Inerrancy Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2011

John Frendreis  and
Raymond Tatalovich
John Frendreis*
Affiliation:
Loyola University, Chicago
Raymond Tatalovich*
Affiliation:
Loyola University, Chicago
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: John Frendreis or Raymond Tatalovich, Loyola University, 1023 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660. E-mail: jfrendr@luc.edu; rtatalo@luc.edu
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: John Frendreis or Raymond Tatalovich, Loyola University, 1023 West Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60660. E-mail: jfrendr@luc.edu; rtatalo@luc.edu
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Abstract

We validate the classification of 16 “mainline” and 97 “evangelical” Protestant denominations in Religious Congregations and Membership in the United States, 2000 based on Mark Chaves' five-point Biblical “inerrancy” scale. Using Glenmary county data, nearly perfect correlations were derived between the percentage of adherents in “evangelical” denominations and levels three-four on the Chaves scale and between the percentage of adherents in “mainline” denominations and level 1 on the Chaves scale. The distinguishing characteristic of Evangelical or Mainline Protestant denominations, therefore, is Biblical inerrancy or its absence. As a guide for future empirical research, this comprehensive listing of Evangelical and Mainline Protestant denominations should be employed in aggregate studies, especially where county-level analysis is applied to one state or a subset of states.

Type
Research Note
Information
Politics and Religion , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , August 2011 , pp. 355 - 365
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2011

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