There are not 45,000 denominations. Atheists have created bogus lists and bogus numbers in one of their many attacks on christianity.

Its simply not true. There might be 1,000 and even that is probably more than there really is.

to say Northern baptist, southern baptist, and 15 other variants are baptists are 17 denominaitons is a mind game, not reality. All the kinds of baptists --many of which are only called that because of where they are-- are still baptists.

If there was only one ... atheists could attack that too, saying its too rigid and no room for variation of interpretation.

I think Luther is to "blame" with his priesthood of the believer thing. That did open the way.

There are different interpretations on details...

ive never understood why this is a big deal?