schism
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What does the word 'schism' mean in religion?
In Christianity, schism refers to a break in the church's unity. It describes divisions caused by disagreements, not necessarily over basic doctrine, that lead to the establishment of rival churches.
Opinions on schism vary across denominations. According to Roman Catholic canon law, a schismatic is a baptized Christian who refuses submission to the Pope or fellowship with church members. Other churches have similar juridical definitions related to separation from their communion.
Schisms have occurred for various reasons, including disagreements over doctrine, the breakdown of consensus, and dissent. Major schisms in church history include the East-West Schism and the Protestant Reformation.
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Why do schisms happen between religious groups?
Schisms in religious groups, such as in Christianity, often arise over what believers consider substantial matters of divine truth and salvation. These can include disagreements over doctrine, decisions made by general councils, or the breakdown of apparent consensus. Cultural, political, and linguistic factors can also play a role. A schismatic is someone who, while still identifying as a Christian, refuses to submit to the Pope or have fellowship with other church members.
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Can you name a famous example of a religious schism?
The East-West Schism is a famous example of a religious schism. This event describes the separation between the Eastern Christian churches and the Western Church, led by Michael Cerularius and Pope Leo IX, respectively.
Several factors contributed to the divide, including the growing estrangement between the churches, theological differences rooted in Greek philosophy versus Roman law, and political interests and jealousies. A major point of contention was the Filioque clause, which the West added to the Nicene Creed without consulting the East. This stated that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. In 1054, mutual excommunications occurred, widening the rift despite attempts at reconciliation. Although the excommunications were lifted in 1965, the schism has never fully healed.
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How did the Great Schism affect Christianity?
The Great Schism, culminating in 1054, significantly impacted Christianity by formally dividing the Eastern and Western churches. This split resulted from growing estrangement between the churches in Constantinople and Rome, fueled by political tensions, theological differences, and disputes over authority.
The Eastern church, influenced by Greek philosophy, differed theologically from the West, which was rooted in Roman law. Disagreements over the Filioque clause, clerical celibacy, and the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist further widened the gap. The mutual excommunications in 1054 solidified the schism, leading to the establishment of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Although relations improved in the 20th century, the schism remains unresolved.
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What are some common reasons that lead to schisms in religions?
Schisms in religions, particularly in Christianity, often arise from disagreements over doctrine, such as differing interpretations of divine truth and salvation. These disagreements can stem from the unaccepted decisions made by general councils. For example, the East-West Schism divided Christendom into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches in 1054 due to disputes and actions.
Other factors include the breakdown of apparent consensus, as seen in the divide between the Byzantine East and the Roman West, involving doctrinal matters and the insertion of the Filioque into the Nicene Creed. Moral and institutional reforms, labeled as "heresies," and new interpretations of Scripture can also lead to schisms. The Protestant Reformation is viewed by some as a schism and by others as a reform. Emerging issues such as the ordination of women, acceptance of homosexual practices, and the relationship between Christianity and other religions can further cause division.
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How can religious schisms impact societies and cultures?
Religious schisms, or divisions over substantive matters, can significantly impact societies and cultures. Throughout history, disagreements on doctrine, practices, and authority have led to the formation of rival religious groups and churches.
Schisms have influenced political and social structures, sometimes resulting in instability and conflict. For example, the Protestant Reformation led to lasting divisions within Christianity and broader European conflicts. These divisions often create powerful religious minorities who seek protection and solidarity from abroad.
Conversely, schisms can also lead to religious reform and reinvigoration, prompting re-evaluation and changes in religious institutions and practices.
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schism, in Christianity, a break in the unity of the church. Opinions concerning the nature and consequences of schism vary with the different conceptions of the nature of the church. According to Roman Catholic canon law, a schismatic is a baptized person who, though continuing to identify as a Christian, refuses submission to the pope or fellowship with members of the church. Other churches have similarly defined schism juridically in terms of separation from their own communion.
History
In the early church, “schism” was used to describe those groups that broke with the church and established rival churches. The term originally referred to those divisions that were caused by disagreement over something other than basic doctrine. Thus, the schismatic group was not necessarily heretical. Eventually, however, the distinctions between schism and heresy became less clear, and disruptions in the church caused by disagreements over doctrine as well as disruptions caused by other disagreements were eventually all referred to as schismatic.
- Protestant Reformation (arguably)
The most significant medieval schism was the East-West Schism that divided Christendom into Western (Roman Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) branches. It began in 1054 because of various disputes and actions, and it has never been healed, although in 1965 Pope Paul VI and the ecumenical patriarch Athenagoras I abolished the mutual excommunications of 1054 of the pope and the patriarch of Constantinople.
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Another important medieval schism was the Western Schism between the rival popes of Rome and Avignon and, later, even a third pope. From the Roman Catholic perspective, perhaps the greatest of the Christian schisms was that involving the Protestant Reformation and the division from Rome. However, as the name suggests, many Protestants see the event as fundamental reform and reinvigoration of Christianity, rather than a moment of harmful disunity.
A significant number of Protestant denominations and churches were formed—and continue to form—as the result of theological or social disagreements. In the middle of the 1800s in the United States, for example, growing tensions over the institution of slavery led to the creation of the Southern Baptist Convention by pro-slavery Baptists. In the late 20th and early 21st century, several major churches worldwide fragmented over contentions regarding women in ministry, gay clergy, or same-sex marriage. One of the most notable of these is the schism within the United Methodist Church, one of the largest Protestant denominations in the U.S., over LGBTQ+ pastors and same-sex marriage. At the end of 2023 more than a quarter of the church’s 30,000 congregations planned to disaffiliate from denomination. While the language of “schism” has been broadly applied to the major division of the United Methodist Church, the term is not commonly applied to the formation of new Protestant groups, particularly in non-liturgical churches.
Ecumenism
In the 20th century the ecumenical movement worked for cooperation and renewed ties among religious groups that had been separated by schism. The greater communication between Roman Catholics and Protestants after the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) resulted in surprising unanimity on certain theological issues. In 1999 the Lutheran churches and the Roman Catholic Church, for example, agreed on a common understanding of the doctrine of justification.
Ecumenism has also strengthened relations between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. In 2013 Bartholomew I attended Pope Francis’s papal inauguration, becoming the first ecumenical patriarch since at least the East-West Schism to attend the installation of a new pope. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill I met with Pope Francis in 2016, the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches. Dialogues among the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and certain Protestant churches have brought general consensus on such issues as baptism, the Eucharist, and the nature of ministry.
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