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For the song, see Schism (song) .


The word ''schism'' ( σχισμα, ''schisma'' (from σχιζω, ''schizo'', "to split"), means a division or a split, usually in an organization or a movement. 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 means pertaining to a schism or schisms, or to those ideas, policies, etc. that are thought to lead towards or promote schism. More generally, especially outside of religion, the word ''schism'' may refer to the separation/split between two or more people, be it brothers, friends, lovers, etc. or any division of a formerly united from the state movement in politics or any other field into two or more disagreeing groups.


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 Nestorian Schism , an early schism between Constantine Christianity and Assyrian Christianity .

  • 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 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 . Within the Roman Catholic Church schism is still an act that incurs automatic Excommunication as a penalty.


Usage within Islam

The division between Sunni and Shia Islam in CE 632 regarding the rightful successor to the prophet Muhammad , and in 661 and 680 regarding the rightful claimant to the Caliphate . This is distinguished from the Liberal Movements Within Islam , a Reform rather than an attempt at schism.


Usage within politics

The Schism between the and Karl Marx .


Usage within entertainment

Various forms of entertainment have used the term, including:
;Sports