sectarian
Narrowly loyal religiously
Sectarian is mainly an adjective that refers to sects, that is, groups that are unified by particular beliefs, goals, or views.
Despite that neutral definition, sectarian is nearly always used negatively to characterize actions by members of sects.
The most common phrases are used in reference to a group that has broken away from government control, or that is smaller in size than other groups who have different views: sectarian violence, sectarian tension, sectarian conflict, and sectarian attacks.
Narrow in perspective
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- insularNarrow in outlook
- myopicUnable to see far
- narrow-mindedIntolerant of differing views
blinkered · intolerant · prejudiced · biased · bigoted · dogmatic · clannish · tribalistic
Formal organizational fracture
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
- violenceHarmful physical force
- discordLack of agreement
animosity · hostility · enmity · feuding · bloodshed · tension · turmoil · unrest
Named religious group
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- creedStatement of belief
doctrine · theology · dogma · cult · faith · clergy · laity · apostasy
Division into opposing cliques
- tribalismIn-group loyalty, out-group hostility
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- divisivenessTendency to create factions
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
entrenchment · intransigence · dogmatism · hardliner · splinter group · infighting · party line · loyalty test
Strict adherence to core tenets
- zealotryExcessive devotion to beliefs
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- radicalismPursuit of sweeping change
- extremismIdeology beyond accepted norms
indoctrination · militancy · jihadism · terrorism · martyrdom · holy war · suicide bombing · paramilitaries
parochial
Narrow in perspective
- provincialRegional or narrow-minded
- insularNarrow in outlook
- myopicUnable to see far
narrow-minded · blinkered · intolerant · prejudiced · biased · bigoted · dogmatic · clannish · tribalistic · small-minded
schism
Formal organizational fracture
- strifeAngry, prolonged conflict
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
- violenceHarmful physical force
discord · animosity · hostility · enmity · feuding · bloodshed · tension · turmoil · unrest · communalism
denomination
Named religious group
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
creed · doctrine · theology · dogma · cult · faith · clergy · laity · apostasy · excommunication
factionalism
Division into opposing cliques
- tribalismIn-group loyalty, out-group hostility
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- divisivenessTendency to create factions
polarization · entrenchment · intransigence · dogmatism · hardliner · splinter group · infighting · party line · loyalty test · purity test
fundamentalism
Strict adherence to core tenets
- zealotryExcessive devotion to beliefs
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- radicalismPursuit of sweeping change
extremism · indoctrination · militancy · jihadism · terrorism · martyrdom · holy war · suicide bombing · paramilitaries · death squad
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- intolerantbigoted, biased, prejudiced, discriminatory, intolerant
- religious conflictreligious war, holy war, Great Schism, crusade, schism
- sectarianismschism, schismatic, faction, factionalism, denomination
- extremistsextremists, extremist, fanatics, fanatic, radicals
- Shia IslamAli, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hussein, Hussain, imam
sectarianecumenical
Promoting religious unity
nonsectarian · interdenominational · nondenominational · interchurch · interfaith
sectarianbroad-minded
Receptive to differing views
open-minded · tolerant · catholic · liberal · unprejudiced
sectarianunifying
Making disparate elements one
ecumenical · nonpartisan · impartial · objective · unbiased
- sectarian violenceConflict between religious factions
- sectarian conflictFighting between belief factions
- sectarian divideRift between religious factions
- sectarian tensionsHostility between religious factions
- sectarian biasPartiality toward one's own sect