relg1010 Factionalism and schism have marked each of the three great faiths we have studied. Discuss the origins and legacy of the Sunni-Shi'a split, the split between Luther with his supporters in Germany and the Church (later called the Roman Catholic Church), and the emergence of Reform Judaism in distinction from traditional Judaism. How were each of these schisms driven by disagreements over who or what was authoritative in the respective traditions? Are authority and power synonymous or not? What do these conflicts tell us about the relation of authority and power-whether they are synonymous or not-in the respective faith traditions and in conflict in the western religious traditions more broadly?

From the thhesis:

Paragraph 2: Sunni-Shi'a Split. a. 632 CE

b. Shi'a were minority & believed that leadership should stay in family of prophet Muhammad

c. Sunnis majority & wanted community of Muslims to determine who would succeed

d. Council of Elders (Sunnis prevailed) chose successor to be first caliph

e. Death of Hussein in Battle of Karbala (680 CE in modern day Iraq)

f. Iran = predominantly Shia

g. Imamate among Shi'a is considered to be divinely inspired & borders on something holier than caliphate (which is a devout religious person, but not a prophet)

Paragraph 3: Luther and the Church. Split b/w Catholic and Protestant. The 95 Theses were written by Martin Luther and posted on the church door on October 31, 1517 CE. This was during the German Reformation when Luther was disturbed by the selling of indulgences and was opposed to earning one's salvation through good acts or payments. Luther proposed sola fidel, which means that one can reach salvation through faith alone. He created the 95 Theses, which were objections to indulgences and posted them on the church door, causing a lot of turmoil in the area. Luther believed in in communion in both kinds, baptism, and taught the Doctrine of Justification & Doctrine of Predestination.

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4: Reform Judaism. b. Geiger

c. Growing out of Haskalah. One way of understanding sects within Judaism

d. Started in 1840s in Germany & spreads from there

e. How to reconcile modernity w / traditional faith

i. i. e. Men and women sitting together

ii. Relaxed dietary laws, prayers don't have to be in Hebrew, emphasis on ethical impulses of religion

f. Conservative Judaism (branches off)

i. Frankel

ii. Reform Judaism becomes increasingly liberal, so conservative Judaism comes about;

1. Jewish Theological Seminary in NY

2. Reform seminary in Europe