Muslims point out all of the divisions of Christian denominations, in which it does not seem that any two groups agree. On the other hand, Muslims, Islamic apologists claim, are unified under one confession (shahada) and five pillars.
“Christians cannot even agree upon what Bible to use,” they say, “Catholics have more books in their version than have Protestants, and Protestants translations are numerous. Denominations disagree on the issues of ritual. There are broad theological differences between modernists, conservatives, neo-orthodox, and fundamentalists. Such divisions show weakness and corruption.”
Response: There is no doubt that Christianity is separated into too many denominations. Many Christians advocate removing denominational barriers, but to say that Muslims are unified is ridiculous.
There are over 150 branches or groups in Islam, the main division being between Sunni and Shia, but these are also sub-divided. Some Muslims of both branches are grouped as Sufi Muslims. These three main groups separate the Muslim world into different authority structures that are every bit as divergent as the Christian divisions of Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestants. The division is so strong that many Shia Muslims do not consider the Sunnites to be Muslims. On the other hand many Sunnites say that the Shia Muslims have nothing to do with Islam.
Muslims point out differences among ‘fringe groups’ that are not accepted as Christian by the vast majority of believers in Jesus Christ. Comparing quasi-Christian cults like the so called ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ and Mormons with traditional Christianity is akin to associating all of Islam with the theology of Ahmadiyyas. Shia, Sunni and Sufi Muslims deny any connection with the Ahmadiyya sect, yet they claim Christianity has heretical diversity. The fundamental beliefs of the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and the bodily resurrection of the Lord are nonnegotiable among orthodox Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants alike. In this sense, Christianity retains a high degree of unity.