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The word schism, from the Greek σχισμα, schisma (from σχιζο, schizo, "to split"), means a division or a split, usually in an organization. A schismatic is a person who creates or incites schism in an organization or who is a member of a splinter group. Schismatic as an adjective refers to those ideas, policies, etc. that are thought to lead towards or promote schism.1 Usage within Christianity
The words schism and schismatic have found perhaps their heaviest usage in the history of Christianity, to denote splits within a church or religious body. In this context, schismatic as a noun denotes a person who creates or incites schism in a church or is a member of a splinter church, and schismatic as an adjective refers to ideas and things that are thought to lead towards or promote schism, often describing a church that has departed from whichever communion the user of the word considers to be the true Christian church. These words have been used to denote both the phenomenon of Christian group splintering in general, and certain significant historical splits in particular.
Thus, within Christianity the word schism may refer to:
- The offense of inciting divisions among Christians.
- The event of two groups of Christians ceasing to be in communion with each other, so that, whereas they formerly could worship together, they decide they must worship separately because of disagreements between them. See also orthodoxy.
- The Great Schism; either of two rifts within the Christian church.
- See Old believers and Raskol for schism within the Russian Orthodox Church.
- Any Christian communion or sect that has left the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Which church constitutes the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has long been disputed: for instance, the Catholic Communion claims that title and considers the Eastern Orthodox Communion to be in schism, while the Eastern Orthodox Communion also claims that title and holds that the Catholic Communion is schismatic and heretical; meanwhile, the Protestant movement considers them both to be in error, as does the Restorationist movement, also including the Protestants in that error.
In the early centuries of Christianity, schism was considered by many Christians to be as serious or more serious than heresy.
2 Other useage
More generally outside of Christianity, the word schism may refer to:
- Any division of a formerly united movement in politics or any other field into two or more disagreeing groups.
- The Schism between the anarchists ( libertarian socialistLibertarian socialism is a political philosophy dedicated to opposing coercive forms of authority and social hierarchy, most famously the institutions of capitalism and the state. It has gone by various names: libertarian communism anarcho-communism left-s) and communistThis article is about communism as a form of society, as an ideology advocating that form of society, and as a popular movement. For issues regarding the organization of the communist movement, see the Communist party article. For issues regarding one-pars of the International Workingmen's AssociationThe International Workingmen's Association sometimes called the First International was an international organization which aimed at uniting a variety of different left-wing political groups and trade union organisations which were based on the working cl; more specifically between their respective leaders: Mikhail BakuninMikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin ( Russian ), ( May 30, 1814 June 13, 1876) was a well-known Russian anarchist contemporaneous to Karl Marx. He was best known as one of the first generation of anarchist philosophers, and has been called one of the "fathers o and Karl MarxKarl Heinrich Marx ( May 5, 1818 March 14, 1883) was an influential German economist, philosopher, social and political theorist. Although Marx addressed many issues in his career as a journalist and philosopher, he is most famous for his analysis of hist.
- The split in the sport of rugby footballThe history of rugby league began with the schism of 1895 in the sport of rugby football. There are now two forms of "rugby": rugby league and rugby union, which although similar, have different laws and governing bodies. The disagreement that lead to the leading to the formation of rugby leagueRugby league is a team sport, played by teams of 13 players per side (usually plus 4 substitutes). The aim is to carry an oval ball up the field towards the opponents in-goal area. Touching the ball down behind this line scores a try, the main aim of the and rugby unionRugby union is a team sport that was (according to legend) developed from the rules used to play football at Rugby School in England. Two teams, each of 15 players have the task of outscoring the opposing team. Players clutch an ovoid ball in their hands as separate sports.
- Schism Records, a NYC-based hardcore record label/ fanzine.
- Schism, a song by the band Tool, from the album Lateralus.
Christian group structuring
