Each major branch of faith has its own idea of what the “official” list looks like. This is why you might hear a Catholic Bible has 73 books, while a Protestant Bible has 66. Same general structure, but with a few extra texts here and there depending on the tradition.

1. The Protestant Bible – 66 Books

The Protestant Bible has 66 books in total. This is the version most people in Protestant churches are used to, with 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Why only 66? Protestant leaders decided that certain books, known as the "Apocrypha," didn’t make the final cut, so those weren’t included. They focused on books they believed to be the most foundational.

2. The Catholic Bible – 73 Books

The Catholic Bible takes it a step further, with 73 books. Like the Protestant Bible, it has 27 books in the New Testament, but it includes some additional books in the Old Testament. These extra ones are known as the "Deuterocanonical" books. Some of these include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, and Sirach, among others. Catholics consider these books just as valuable for understanding the faith as any other.

3. The Eastern Orthodox Bible – Typically 76 Books

Then we’ve got the Eastern Orthodox Bible. This version usually includes around 76 books, though the number can vary a bit depending on the specific Orthodox tradition. Along with the extra books found in the Catholic Bible, some Orthodox Bibles also include even more, like 1 Esdras and 3 Maccabees. This Bible also has a unique addition: "Psalm 151." If you’re used to 150 Psalms, this one’s a surprise.

4. The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible – 81 Books

The Ethiopian Orthodox Bible is the biggest of them all, with 81 books. This version includes everything you’ll find in the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, plus a few unique ones like the books of Enoch and Jubilees. It even has books called "1–3 Meqabyan" that don’t show up in any other Christian Bible. In Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, these extra books are seen as sacred.

5. The Jewish Tanakh – 24 Books

The Jewish Bible, called the Tanakh, is a bit different. It has 24 books, all of which are part of the Old Testament in Christian Bibles. Even though it has fewer books, the content is similar to the Protestant Old Testament. The difference is in how the books are grouped. For example, what Christians know as 1 and 2 Samuel is combined into one book in the Tanakh.

Opus Dei (Latin for "Work of God") is an influential institution within the Roman Catholic Church. It has been a subject of both praise and controversy since its founding.

FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS AND MISSION

Opus Dei was founded in 1928 in Spain by St. Josemaría Escrivá. Its central message, known as the "universal call to holiness," is the belief that all people, regardless of their profession or social status, are called to seek holiness and sanctity in their ordinary, everyday lives.

KEY TENETS OF THEIR SPIRITUALITY INCLUDE:

Sanctifying Ordinary Work: Members are encouraged to view their daily work, whether as a lawyer, doctor, artist, or homemaker, as a means of growing closer to God. The goal is to perform work with Christian integrity, excellence, and love, offering it up as a service to God and others.

Divine Filiation: A strong emphasis on the awareness that Christians are children of God, and should act accordingly in every aspect of their lives.

Spiritual Training: Opus Dei offers spiritual formation, including retreats, classes, and spiritual direction, to help its members integrate their faith into their daily routines.

STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP

Opus Dei is unique in the Catholic Church as the first and, so far, only personal prelature. This means its jurisdiction is over people, not a specific geographic territory like a diocese. It is overseen by a prelate who reports directly to the Pope.

The vast majority of its members are lay people, with a small number of secular priests. Membership is categorized in a few ways:

Supernumeraries: The largest group, they are typically married with families and live ordinary lives, receiving spiritual direction from Opus Dei.

Numeraries: A smaller group who are celibate and dedicate themselves more fully to the organization's work. They often live in Opus Dei centers, which are gender-segregated.

Associates: Like numeraries, they are celibate but, due to personal circumstances, do not live in Opus Dei centers.

Priestly Society of the Holy Cross: A separate, but intrinsically linked, society of priests who are either incardinated into the prelature or are diocesan priests who follow Opus Dei's spirituality.

CONTROVERSIES AND CRITICISMS

Despite its official recognition and support from Popes like John Paul II, Opus Dei has long been the subject of controversy, fueled in part by its portrayal in popular fiction, like The Da Vinci Code.

Secrecy and Cult-like Practices: Critics allege that the organization is secretive, with members often not disclosing their affiliation. Former members have claimed that Opus Dei's intensive spiritual direction and highly structured living arrangements, particularly for numeraries, can lead to isolation from non-member family and friends.

Mortification of the Flesh: Opus Dei's practice of corporal mortification - small acts of penance like fasting or, for some celibate members, wearing a spiked chain (a cilice) for a few hours a day - is a source of public criticism. While these practices have a long history in Catholicism, they are rare for modern laypeople. Opus Dei maintains that these are voluntary, private acts.

Recruitment and Social Elitism: The organization has been accused of aggressive recruiting tactics, sometimes targeting teenagers. There have also been allegations of social elitism, with a focus on attracting well-educated, influential, or wealthy professionals.

Political Influence: Opus Dei has been criticized for its perceived political influence, particularly its members' involvement in the government of Francisco Franco in Spain and other conservative regimes. The organization, however, maintains that its mission is spiritual, and members are free to hold their own political beliefs.

Pope Peter-Benedict summons John Storm to the Vatican.