Church schism

A church schism occurs when a large religious community splits into separate groups due to disagreements over beliefs, authority, or practices. These disagreements can lead to formal separations, creating new denominations or branches within the religion. Schisms often result from disagreements over leadership, doctrine, or interpretation of sacred texts, and can be driven by cultural or political differences as well. While they may cause division among followers, both sides typically see themselves as preserving true faith or tradition. Notable examples include the Great Schism of 1054, which divided Eastern and Western Christianity.