Schism (Christianity)

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Schism in Christianity happens when any number of churches from a denomination split from that denomination and start a new denomination or become independent churches; a break of unity in the church. The split can be violent or not violent but it causes two separate religious bodies. This article will cover schisms in Christianity.

In the early Christian church, the difference between the concepts of "heresy" and "schism" began. The general agreement was that a "heresy" was a disagreement with essential issues of faith (like the trinity), and a "schism" was less serious form of disunity caused by disagreement on a non-essential christian teaching (like the Eucharist) or disagreements within the leaders of the church. Schism also causes different churches to not be in communion with each other. A church can be heretic and schismatic.

Christian views on schism

Roman Catholicism

The 1983 Code of Canon law which sets the rules for the Latin Church of the Catholic Church states that schism is the "refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him." Any catholic who commits schism are excommunicated and any clergy who commits schism is not considerd offical clergy.

The Catholic Church considers heresy a Ecclesiastical crime and a serious sin.

Eastern Orthodoxy

The Eastern Orthodox Church believes that schism is a sin and that the Roman Catholic church, along with Protestantism are schismatics. They also believe you should not pray with schismatics and heretics.

However, there remains a disagreement in Eastern Orthodoxy about praying with schismatics. Even though all of mainstream Eastern Orthodoxy agrees that Liturgical prayer (prayers set by the church for certain liturgies) should be done only by members of Eastern Orthodoxy, there is a disagreement on if this applies to common prayer or not. Some groups believe that it should not be applied to common prayer, some groups strictly believe that you can only pray with members of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Major branches within Christianity

Christian primitivism

Anabaptism

Protestantism

Anglicanism

("Via Media")

(Latin rite)

Catholicism

(Eastern rites)

Eastern Orthodoxy

Oriental Orthodoxy

Assyrian Church

Reformation

(16th century)

Great Schism

(11th century)

Council of Ephesus 431

Council of Chalcedon 451

Early Christianity

Union

Pre-12th century Christian schisms

Since the early days of Christianity, many disagreements have came up between members of the Church.

These following groups are considered as schisms of Early Christianity by the current mainstream Christian denominations.:

Name of schism	Original location of schism	Start date	Schism resolved	Original Church body	Resulting denominations or groups	Notes
Marcionian schism	Roma, Italia, Roman Empire	144	c. 10th century	Great Church	Marcionites	The schism started after the excommunication of Marcion of Sinope, who was influenced by Gnosticism and taught that the teachings of Christ is not compatible with the actions of the God in the Old Testament.
Montanian schism	Ardabau, Mysia, Asia (Roman province), Roman Empire	c. 157	c. 9th century		Montanists	The schism started after the excommunication of Montanus, along with Prisca and Maximilla, who taught that the Holy Spirit allows new prophecies after Jesus Christ.
Sabellian schism	Roma, Italia, Roman Empire	220	–		Sabellians Patripassianism	The schism started after Pope Callixtus I excommunicated Sabellius, who taught that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God (Modalisic Monarchianism), instead of three distinct persons in God Himself.
Novatian schism	Roma, Italia, Roman Empire	251	8th century		Novatianists	The schism started after Novatian was consecrated by three bishops of Italy and declared himself to be the true Pope instead of Pope Cornelius. He believed that Christians, who had given their faith up under persecution, may not be accepted into the church again.