The etymology of the word schism originates back to Ancient Greek. The Greek word “Schizein”, which meant “to split”, is the oldest form of schism known. Later the word was also a part of the Old French, it had the same meaning, but was spelled “cisme”. In Middle English schism was spelled “scisme”, and is the time when the word acquired the religious meaning it has today.
Schism is most commonly used in reference to the splitting up of a religion, particularly Christianity. Schism was specifically applied to situations when the separation occurred without “justifiable reason”. Throughout human history a number of schisms have occurred, although the word wasn’t related to religion until eleventh century. The most well known schism occurred in 1054 when European Christendom split up into two branches, Western and Eastern European. The split is known as the Great Schism of 1054, and resulted in the western branch, known as Roman Catholicism, and the Eastern branch, Orthodoxy.
The Eastern European states adopted Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy differed from Roman Catholicism is numerous ways. For example, Eastern theology originated from Greek philosophies, while Western theology was primarily based on Roman law. A Greek Orthodox patriarch, Michael Cerularius, initiated the split by ordering all Byzantine churches in his diocese to perform all teachings in Greek, and closing those who failed to comply. The Schism of 1054 was never fixed, and to this day Orthodoxy is practices primarily in Eastern European countries, while descendants of Roman Catholicism are dominant religions in the west.
The second important schism, The Great Schism, occurred in the fourteenth century when the Roman Catholic Church split into two. The schism, which lasted for sixty-eight years, occurred supposedly because the King of France did not like the Italian Pope. After the schism, King of France elected another Pope, whom he of course believed to be the true pope. The French-elected pope became known as the Avignon Pope, after the city his papacy took place in. The two popes were at constant conflict with each other, denouncing one another, and trying to remove the other from their position of control. Most people didn’t take the Schism very seriously due to their constant competition of the two popes, making the matter seem too much like worldly politics. The Great Schism was eventually healed in 1414 by the Council of Constance when a single pope, Pope Martin V, was elected.
Schism isn’t a very commonly used word; it can be used to identify split, division, rupture, and breaking apart. Schism, however, usually is associated with religious divisions, and often is related to the two Great Schisms I described in this paper.
Etymology of the Word Schism
The etymology of the word schism originates back to Ancient Greek. The Greek word “Schizein”, which meant “to split”, is the oldest form of schism known. Later the word was also a part of the Old French, it had the same meaning, but was spelled “cisme”. In Middle English schism was spelled “scisme”, and is the time when the word acquired the religious meaning it has today.
Schism is most commonly used in reference to the splitting up of a religion, particularly Christianity. Schism was specifically applied to situations when the separation occurred without “justifiable reason”. Throughout human history a number of schisms have occurred, although the word wasn’t related to religion until eleventh century. The most well known schism occurred in 1054 when European Christendom split up into two branches, Western and Eastern European. The split is known as the Great Schism of 1054, and resulted in the western branch, known as Roman Catholicism, and the Eastern branch, Orthodoxy.
The Eastern European states adopted Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy differed from Roman Catholicism is numerous ways. For example, Eastern theology originated from Greek philosophies, while Western theology was primarily based on Roman law. A Greek Orthodox patriarch, Michael Cerularius, initiated the split by ordering all Byzantine churches in his diocese to perform all teachings in Greek, and closing those who failed to comply. The Schism of 1054 was never fixed, and to this day Orthodoxy is practices primarily in Eastern European countries, while descendants of Roman Catholicism are dominant religions in the west.
The second important schism, The Great Schism, occurred in the fourteenth century when the Roman Catholic Church split into two. The schism, which lasted for sixty-eight years, occurred supposedly because the King of France did not like the Italian Pope. After the schism, King of France elected another Pope, whom he of course believed to be the true pope. The French-elected pope became known as the Avignon Pope, after the city his papacy took place in. The two popes were at constant conflict with each other, denouncing one another, and trying to remove the other from their position of control. Most people didn’t take the Schism very seriously due to their constant competition of the two popes, making the matter seem too much like worldly politics. The Great Schism was eventually healed in 1414 by the Council of Constance when a single pope, Pope Martin V, was elected.
Schism isn’t a very commonly used word; it can be used to identify split, division, rupture, and breaking apart. Schism, however, usually is associated with religious divisions, and often is related to the two Great Schisms I described in this paper.