In regards to the doctrinal differences of the Latins, some Orthodox had particularly staunch views. Patriarch Michael I Cerularius would state that Latin interpolations in the doctrine of the…

In regards to the doctrinal differences of the Latins, some Orthodox had particularly staunch views. Patriarch Michael I Cerularius would state that Latin interpolations in the doctrine of the filioque constituted, ‘an evil and even the worst of evils.’ While the Orthodox did see the Muslims as a threat, the danger posed by them could never be enough to require a compromise in doctrine. The Orthodox held so firmly on to their sense and definition of Christianity, despite the presence of a ‘common enemy,’ the Orthodox refused to yield to the conditions of the Latin West for military aid. While some Orthodox clergy did make way for union with the Latin church at the Council of Florence, when they arrived back to Constantinople, most reneged their signatures.

Evidence

While the Orthodox did see the Muslims as a threat, the danger posed by them could never be enough to require a compromise in doctrine. The Orthodox held so firmly on to their sense and definition of Christianity, despite the presence of a “common enemy,” the Orthodox refused to yield to the conditions of the Latin West for military aid. While some Orthodox clergy did make way for union with the Latin church at the Council of Florence, when they arrived back to Constantinople, most reneged their signatures. — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 49 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

However, he does not qualify this quote by mentioning the tensions between Orthodox and Latin clergy. During the fall of Constantinople such divisions were lucidly apparent and remained till the very end an obstacle between the full aid and empathy of the Latin West. — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 48 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Having seen the dissenting attitudes present during the fall of Constantinople, we can see the theological divisions within Christianity were so great, not even the threat of a Muslim invasion would convince them to accept theological compromise. With this information, I will now show how it bears significance on the discussion found in modern scholarship on Islamophobia, which, when describing the history of Islamophobia, often and frequently ignore such tensions. These authors end up reading Christianity as being more unified than it is. By examining these historical portrayals of Islamophobia, I hope to argue that while Islam has been viewed as an enemy by Christendom, the theological dissension within Christianity sometimes caused Christian churches to view each other as worse than a foreign enemy. Relative to the threat of a Muslim invasion, the thought of accepting another’s creed could be seen as more disruptive. — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 45 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The schism within Christianity was perceived as a greater threat than that of a foreign invasion; the Orthodox were relatively receptive towards having the Ottomans as material rulers in contrast to the Latins.; Orthodox authorities perceived an invasion by the Latins as worse, for they would not afford them autonomy which might be hoped under Muslims. The land might remain under Christian rule, but the Orthodox churches would have to yield to papal supremacy. While the Muslim conquest might lead to a change of the head of state, the churches would not be forced to make any doctrinal changes or alter their church hierarchy.; In an effort to oppose the Ottomans, Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini (the future Pope Pius II) tried to exhort all Christians to mount an offensive against the Ottomans. Like the crusades, some hoped Christian polities would look past their differences and come to the aid of the Orthodox Byzantine Christians in this dire hour. Another figure was King George of Kunštát and Poděbrady of Bohemia who—seeing the Ottomans surround Constantinople—also tried to promote the idea of a Pan-Christian resistance to the onslaught of the Muslim forces. (+15 more)

Related

• Orthodox Christians valued doctrinal purity over military alliance with Rome. (similarity 0.95)
• The schism within Christianity was perceived as a greater threat than that of a foreign invasion; the Orthodox were relatively receptive towards having the Ottomans as material rulers in contrast… (similarity 0.93)
• Orthodox-Latin clerical tensions blocked Western aid to Constantinople. (similarity 0.92)
• The fall marked the end of the Eastern Roman Empire and highlighted the deep-rooted theological tensions within Christianity, tensions that were so profound that many Orthodox Christians preferred… (similarity 0.92)
• Christians judged the inner religious enemy worse than the foreign one (similarity 0.91)
• Doctrinal inflexibility within Orthodoxy undermined defense against the Ottomans (similarity 0.91)
• Orthodox authorities perceived an invasion by the Latins as worse, for they would not afford them autonomy which might be hoped under Muslims. The land might remain under Christian rule, but the… (similarity 0.91)
• The Latin doctrine differed from the Orthodox in regard to papal supremacy, the filioque clause, and unleavened bread. With these tensions unresolved between the churches, the Ottomans may have… (similarity 0.90)
• Orthodox clergy preferred Ottoman rule over Latin rule during the fall of Constantinople. (similarity 0.90)
• Joseph Bryennius, a Byzantine theologian said, ‘Let no one be deceived by delusive hopes that the Italian allied troops will sooner or later come to us. But if they do pretend to rise to defend… (similarity 0.90)
• Byzantine Orthodox preferred Muslim conquest over theological compromise with Latin Christians (similarity 0.89)
• Some Byzantine laity preferred Latin Christian rule over Ottoman Muslim rule. (similarity 0.88)
• Ali Qureshi — The Fall of Constantinople A Critical Analysis of Its Bearing on Islamophobia Discourse (similarity 0.87)
• The essay critically assesses the contemporary scholarship on Christian Islamophobia, arguing that it often overlooks the internal Christian divisions and portrays Christianity as a monolithic… (similarity 0.87)
• Some Orthodox Christians preferred Ottoman rule to papal supremacy (similarity 0.87)

Broader Connections

• Orthodox Christians valued doctrinal purity over military alliance with Rome. #corroborates (0.90) — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 49
• Orthodox-Latin clerical tensions blocked Western aid to Constantinople. #corroborates (0.85) — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 48
• Medieval Christian infighting outweighed the shared threat of Islam #corroborates (0.80) — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 45
• Byzantine Orthodox preferred Muslim conquest over theological compromise with Latin Christians #corroborates (0.75) — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 25
• Christians judged the inner religious enemy worse than the foreign one #corroborates (0.70) — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 59
• Doctrinal inflexibility within Orthodoxy undermined defense against the Ottomans #expands (0.65) — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 24
• Some Orthodox Christians preferred Ottoman rule to papal supremacy #corroborates (0.60) — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 23
• Orthodox Christians preferred Ottoman rule because it shielded them from Latin interference. #corroborates (0.55) — Ali Qureshi, The Fall of Constantinople, 42