Final answer:
The Eastern and Western Churches were pushed towards a final confrontation due to linguistic and cultural differences, differences in church practices, and reform movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Eastern and Western Churches were pushed towards a final confrontation due to several disagreements:
- Linguistic and cultural differences: The church in the west operated in Latin, while the church in the east used Greek. This language barrier contributed to a growing divide between the two.
- Differences in church practices: The church in the west insisted on a celibate clergy, while the church in the east permitted priests to marry. They also had different views on the authority of the pope compared to other patriarchs.
- Reform movements: The reform movement in western Europe unintentionally deepened the divisions between the Eastern and Western Churches, as the popes sought to impose their vision of a reformed church on the Orthodox Church.