schisms
Breaks within faiths
Schisms are divisions or separations within a group, especially one that was previously unified.
The term most often appears in religious contexts, where a schism occurs when factions break apart over doctrinal disagreements or disputes about leadership.
The Great Schism of 1054 divided Christianity into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
The word extends to any significant split in an organization or movement: Policy disagreements created lasting schisms within the party.
Separation into parts
- riftCrack or estrangement
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- breachBreaking of agreement
fracture · fissure · severance · separation · partition · bifurcation · divergence · breaking
Lack of agreement
- dissensionConflict within a group
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
antagonism · hostility · contention · dispute · quarrel · friction · infighting · enmity
Division into opposing cliques
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- ideologyStructured belief framework
- splinterThin sharp fragment
breakaway · defection · realignment · secession · disunion · insurgency · rebellion · coup
Belief opposing official doctrine
- sectarianismPrejudiced loyalty to subgroups
- denominationNamed religious group
- reformationProcess of improving institutions
- apostasyRenunciation of former beliefs
excommunication · orthodoxy · doctrine · dogma · creed · Protestant · Catholic · Sunni
Breaking into sharp fragments
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- breakupRomantic relationship's termination
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- atomizationReduction to fine particles
fracturing · crumbling · dismemberment · scattering · dispersal · balkanization · decentralization
split
Separation into parts
breach · fracture · fissure · severance · separation · partition · bifurcation · divergence · breaking · sundering
discord
Lack of agreement
- dissensionConflict within a group
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
animosity · antagonism · hostility · contention · dispute · quarrel · friction · infighting · enmity · rancor
factionalism
Division into opposing cliques
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- ideologyStructured belief framework
splinter · breakaway · defection · realignment · secession · disunion · insurgency · rebellion · coup · purge
heresy
Belief opposing official doctrine
- sectarianismPrejudiced loyalty to subgroups
- denominationNamed religious group
- reformationProcess of improving institutions
apostasy · excommunication · orthodoxy · doctrine · dogma · creed · Protestant · Catholic · Sunni · Shia
splintering
Breaking into sharp fragments
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- breakupRomantic relationship's termination
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
atomization · fracturing · crumbling · dismemberment · scattering · dispersal · balkanization · decentralization
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- BuddhismBuddha, dharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma
- church historychurch history, apostles, Protestant Reformation, Christian history, baptism
- Church disputesArian controversy, Monophysitism, iconoclasm, papal infallibility, transubstantiation
- heresyheretic, heretical, heretics, apostasy, apostate
schismsunifications
Acts of merging separate entities
unions · reunifications · mergers · consolidations · unity
schismsreconciliations
Restorations of friendly relations
rapprochements · reunions · healing · mending · accord
schismsconsensus
General group agreement
orthodoxy · agreement · uniformity · conformity · unanimity
- Western SchismPeriod of competing popes
- religious schismDivision within a faith
- Great SchismHistoric Christian church division