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Why did the Christian Church split into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox denominations?

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Final answer:

The Christian Church split into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox denominations due to cultural, linguistic, and doctrinal differences. The Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church had distinct practices and beliefs regarding language, clergy celibacy, and authority. The Great Schism of 1054 formalized the split.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Christian Church split into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox denominations primarily due to a combination of cultural, linguistic, and doctrinal differences. The Great Schism of 1054 marked the formal split, with the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome and the Eastern Orthodox Church centered in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul).

The Roman Catholic Church used Latin, upheld celibacy for clergy, and recognized the Pope as the ultimate authority, while the Eastern Orthodox Church used Greek, allowed priests to marry, and considered other patriarchs to be equally authoritative. These differences, as well as growing tensions and disagreements, contributed to the division between the two denominations.

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