What factors contributed to the division of the Christian Church?

Answer 1

The pre-Reformation and Reformation periods were very important in the history of the Church. On the one side were those Christians who believed that God was calling them to a different kind of religious experience, which they believed was closer to the teachings of the New Testament than that taught by the official Church. On the other side was an official Church that was prepared to call upon the power of the state to stop them exploring what they believed God was calling them to do.

One of these early reformers was Jan Hus (ca. 1369-1415). However, he was opposed and executed on charges of heresy. Sometime later, those who followed his teachings in Bohemia (modern Czech Republic) attempted a revolution to change the arrangements of the state and the Church. It was crushed.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) in effect announced the Reformation with his 95 theses (or propositions) against the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church. He survived attempts to have him arrested, which would have led to his execution, through the protection of his secular ruler, the Elector of Saxony, who remained quietly in the background of all this.

The Peace of Augsburg (1555) divided the German states of the Holy Roman Europe between Catholic and Lutheran authority, depending on the religious affiliation of the prince of each state. This was wound back in various places as opportunity came to hand. For example, the peace was shattered when Ferdinand II became king of Bohemia in 1617 and it was feared that he would make Bohemia a Catholic country. An attempted revolution failed, and a war launched against the country by the Holy Roman Empire. This saw Catholicism established there as the official religion.

A different situation applied in England. It first of all separated itself from the Catholic Church under Henry VIII, but under his son Edward VI it became truly Protestant. Under Edward's successor and sister, Mary I, England became Catholic again, but reverted to Protestantism again under Elizabeth I (reigned 1558-1603). During her reign, Philip II of Spain attempted to conquer England and return it to Catholicism, but this expedition failed.

There is no doubt that a element of raw power plays (as in Henry VIII's England) was joined with righteous religious motives in the events that led to some of the political changes wrought by the Reformation. Yet this does not disguise the fact that many "protesters" died for their troubles, and others were subjected to heavy disabilities. The Catholic Church officially led the resistance to these reforms; and it joined together with the secular authorities to bring deadly force to bear against the reformers. These things stand in silent witness against the Catholic Church of this period.

Another Thought:

The Bible speaks of false teachers during the middle 1st Century - the Apostles speak to this in their writings. However, notwithstanding these smaller factions, many biblical scholars would point to the early to late 4th Century as the time of the major split withing Christianity. One must remember that the early Church had many Jewish converts and they followed most all of the Mosaic Laws - especially Sabbath worshipping and Annual Holy Days. These all changed by edicts of the then ruling society - Rome - making this the probable first major division in the Church Jesus began on Earth.

Answer 2

Satan.

He wants to destroy God's plan. He uses everything possible and is the underlying factor.

This caused and is causes difference of opinion over belief, interpretation of scripture, boastfulness (who put you in charge).

Discontent with just doing this, other doctrine that does not agree with The Bible and the teaching of Christ were introduced, in other words, other religions, Islam, Mormonism etc.

Answer 3

The split of the Christian Church in Rome made the Catholic and the Eastern Orthodoxy. This split happened because of rising tensions in the religion. Rome was the center of Christianity, but the Byzantine empire had the wealth. The Catholics wanted manmade things and the Orthodoxies wanted different manmade things too, but they both agreed on JC, the Bible, and the Gospels.

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Catholic AnswerAssuming your are talking about the Eastern Schism, which is mentioned above. Please note that your terms are incorrect, the Church CANNOT "split." The Catholic Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, when Our Blessed Lord created it, with St. Peter at its head (see St. Matthew's Gospel 16:17-19), he guaranteed that it would be ONE, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, and He would send the Holy Spirit to guide it until the end of the world. Therefore it is impossible for it to "split", as Our Blessed Lord's Body cannot split. The Orthodox Church did, indeed, split AWAY from the Church that Our Blessed Lord founded, but the Christian Church cannot split.

Answer 4

A split in a church is most commonly because of a fault in leadership, a shift in Demographics, or a change in mission. Separations among denominations are almost always over doctrine and interpretation of certain scriptures.

Answer 5

Our different understanding of who God is, what he does, and how. Our different understanding of the roles of Jesus Christ and the Church. Our different understanding of what God expects of us.

Answer 6

Differences of opinion on meaning of various scriptures.