Religion is fundamentally about oneness and unity, and also about sectarian splits. It is one of the greatest ironies in human history that it is through the medium of religion that the biggest sectarian divisions occur – not just between different faiths but even within the same faith. This phenomenon of sectarian fanaticism has happened almost uniformly across all religions.
When a faith splinters, the different sects may treat each other with mutual respect, but in many cases, the sectarian division leads to senseless violence. There is no reason why sub-sects within a religion should fuss over minor differences. Yet, history is filled with examples of people missing the forest for the trees, often with tragic consequences.
Examples of Sectarian Splits
Judaism: Jews have split into Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. Jews have split into Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. These sectarian divisions reflect different approaches to scriptures, rituals, and society. While they have the same sacred roots, the interpretations of faith and practice vary widely. Having said that, Judaism continues to emphasize collective identity, shared history, and spiritual unity, irrespective of sectarian differences.
Christianity: Christians fall into one of three broad religious divisions—Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox—and within these broad sectarian splits are a plethora of sub-sects. In fact, most estimates place the total number of Christian denominations across the globe at around 40,000! The three main divisions arose due to two great schisms in the history of Christianity. First, the Catholic-Orthodox split occurred due to a combination of political and theological differences, such as the degree of authority that the Pope should have and the way that holy sacraments like Communion should be conducted. Similarly, Protestants split from Catholics due to ideological differences, mainly revolving around disagreements on how much power the Papal authorities should have, especially due to questions about their abuse of power.
New religions often spring forth within the old as a result of new revelations from God: for instance, God speaks to Moses and Judaism is founded, or the prophet Gabriel is sent to Mohammed, which eventually results in Islam. However, prophets and religious leaders almost never seek to found new religions — they intend to correct the mistakes of existing ones.
Islam: Islam is considered to have three main religious divisions: Sunni, Shia, and the mystical branch of the Sufis. The Sunni-Shia sectarian splits occurred due to a disagreement over who Muhammad’s successor should be, and Sufism further distinguished itself from these other two main sects by placing more emphasis on the unity of all religions, embracing many teachings from outside of Islam.
Hinduism: Hindus have numerous sects, each dedicated to different gods in the vast pantheon. The three main sectors in conflict are Vaishnavism (followers of Vishnu), Shaivism (believers in Shiva), and Shaktism (worshippers of the goddess). Despite the numerous ways and deities of worship, the essence of Hinduism lies in the idea of oneness. Therefore, all Hindus recognize the truth and validity of all deities and all sects, even though they may focus particular attention on one over the others. Understanding what religion believes in karma is essential here as it helps to explain the underlying unity and acceptance within Hinduism.
Buddhism: Buddhism is split mainly into Theravada (the traditional teachings of the Buddha), Mahayana, and Vajrayana. The Mahayana sect developed from new teachers and texts that emphasized the importance of the bodhisattva way of life, working to help others achieve enlightenment before achieving your own final state of Nirvana. Vajrayana, the smallest sect, places emphasis on Tantric methods of practice, which draw upon mysticism and see the body as the gateway to enlightenment.
Taoism: Taoism has had a complicated historical religious schism. There has been a rise and fall of different schools of thought. Over time, Taoist traditions have developed their own spiritual practices, rituals, philosophies, and interpretations of the Tao. Despite differences, Taoism continued to centre itself around balance, simplicity, and living in alignment with the natural flow of life. Confucianism, although not defined by sects like these other religions, saw eight successors after Confucius' death, each with their own interpretations of his teachings.
Prophets’ Teachings vs. Sectarianism
We should remember that our similarities outweigh our differences, especially when the differences are merely variations on the same religious teaching. This is what the prophets taught—that we are all one and should not let minor things cause sectarian splits. Unfortunately, many of the priests who assumed leadership roles after the prophets’ passing have divided us, either due to their lack of vision, inability, or vested interests in political power. Understanding what religion believes in karma can provide a deeper insight into why these divisions occur and how they can be overcome through spiritual awareness and unity.
Spiritual leaders across different cultures and religions have warned against sectarian division. They have talked about the human tendency to turn faith into factions. Many people agree on one deep truth that when ego enters religion, unity will weaken. Here are some teachings that remind us that a sectarian faith should guide people towards compassion and not conflict.
Christianity on Religious Division and Sectarian Conflict
The New Testament warns believers against quarrels and arguments that weaken spiritual harmony, while saints like Augustine viewed schism as a serious break from divine unity.
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, I have nothing to do with them.”
-The New Testament (Titus 3:9-10)
“There is nothing more serious than the sacrilege of schism because there is no just cause for severing the unity of the Church.” - Augustine of Hippo
Islam on Sectarian Division and Split Religion
The Qur’an repeatedly calls for unity, brotherhood, and collective faith rooted in God rather than division based on identity or power.
“As for those who have divided their religion and broken up into factions, have nothing to do with them [Prophet]. Their case rests with God: in time He will tell them about their deeds.”
- The Qur’an (6:159)
“Hold fast to God’s rope all together; do not split into factions. Remember God’s favor to you: you were enemies, and then He brought your hearts together, and you became brothers by His grace.”
-Qur’an (3:103-04)
Judaism on Religious Division and Community Unity
Jewish wisdom literature reflects on the dangers of sectarian division and internal conflict. Many Jewish teachings warn that when communities break into hostile clusters, spiritual and social harmony suffers.
“Do not form many [small] clusters, but all of you stay as one cluster. ‘Do not break up into clusters.’ Do not divide in dissent against one another, lest you bring about a ‘baldness’ within your number, as Korah did. He divided Israel, making them into many small clusters, and thus brought about a 'korah', a 'baldness', in Israel.” - Sefer Ha-Aggadah
“Most conflicts and wars have nothing to do with religion. They are about power, territory, and glory… But if religion can be enlisted, it will be.” - Jonathan Sacks
Baha’i Perspectives on Sectarian Faith and Human Unity
The Baha’i faith views prejudice, fanaticism, and sectarian division as barriers to human progress. Its teachings encourage people to recognize the spiritual unity that connects all humanity.
“A new religious principle is that prejudice and fanaticism, whether sectarian, denominational, patriotic, or political, are destructive to the foundation of human solidarity.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Buddhism on Sectarian Division and Spiritual Harmony
Buddhist teachings encourage inner awareness, compassion, and freedom from attachment. Many Buddhist leaders have spoken against sectarian faith becoming a source of hostility or criticism.
“Sectarian feelings and criticism of other teachings or other sects are very bad, poisonous, and should be avoided.”
- The Dalai Lama
Hinduism on Religious Diversity and Split Religion
Hindu philosophy embraces diversity in spiritual paths. Rather than fearing religious division, many Hindu thinkers encourage respect for varied beliefs.
“The varieties of religious belief are an advantage, since all faiths are good, so far as they encourage us to lead a religious life.” -Swami Vivekananda
“God laughs again when two brothers divide their land with a string, saying to each other, ‘This side is mine and that side is yours.’” -Sri Ramakrishna
Conclusion
Sectarian splits or sectarian fanaticism within religions highlight the irony of division within a framework meant to promote unity. By understanding what religion believes in karma, we can gain insight into the causes of these splits and work towards overcoming them through mutual respect and a focus on shared values. The teachings of various religious leaders remind us that our similarities should unite us, not our differences divide us.