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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · History of Religions

Schism

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/ˈskɪzəm/nounCommon term

In religious studies & theology, schism means: A formal split within a religious community into separate groups, usually over doctrine, authority or practice.

In Turkish: bölünme, ayrılık, şizma

How it is used

Best known from Christian history: the East-West Schism, traditionally dated to 1054, and the Western Schism (1378-1417), when rival popes claimed authority. A schism can be caused, deepened or healed. The adjective is schismatic.

Example sentences

  1. The schism of 1054 is traditionally seen as the break between the churches of Rome and Constantinople.

  2. Historians now describe the schism as a long process rather than a single event.

Common collocations

  • the Great Schism
  • East-West Schism
  • heal a schism
  • cause a schism
  • Eastern OrthodoxyThe Christian tradition of the Eastern Orthodox churches, such as the Greek, Russian and Serbian churches, which share doctrine and liturgy and are in communion with each other.
  • heresyA belief or teaching that the authorities of a religious community judge to be contrary to its accepted doctrine.
  • denominationA recognized branch of a religion, especially of Christianity, with its own name, organization and traditions, such as the Lutheran, Methodist or Baptist churches.
  • ReformationThe sixteenth-century religious movement in Western Christianity, usually dated from Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, that led to the creation of Protestant churches.

More terms: History of Religions

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