by: chris kazun

 Not only from outside the faith



 Islam and the crusades
Threats perceived as coming from within the faith itself
Christianity seen as a stabilizing force in society
Any threats became dealt with severely




Reaction to
Albigensian/Cathar “heresy”

 Mix of Gnosticism and
Manichaeism
Two Gods
Spiritual – good
 Physical – evil
All things in physical world are evil and dangerous
 Jesus only appeared to have a human body
 Rejected mass, church buildings, sacraments, marriage, sex, allowed homosexuality and suicide
 Men and women were equal
 Did not recognize secular authority







Tolerated or ignored for over 50 years
Pope Innocent III followed a traditional policy:
 “Heretics are to be overcome by reasoning, not by force.”
Changed when papal legate was killed by a
Cathar/Albigensian follower
 Innocent III called for military crusade – Albigensian
Crusade
Thousands of Cathars were killed (burning at stake was popular), lands were seized
Lasted 20 years; unable to wipe out Cathars
 Survived underground, like early Christians
Secular rulers became increasingly involved



Begun by Pope Gregory
IX (in 1231)
 Keep secular rulers from usurping Church’s authority
The Inquisition was meant to detect and purge heresy




Instituted special judges
(representatives of pope) – inquisitors
Functioned independent from civil authorities
 Worked in civil system
 Had papal authority
Examined and judged religious opinions and moral conduct of suspicious people



Dominicans and
Franciscans
Chosen because:
 Less likely to be swayed by worldly motives
 Less likely to be pressured by secular authorities
 Well educated in theological and spiritual knowledge

 The Church looked for men who:
 possessed qualities of a good judge
 Were determined to protect and promote faith
 Desire salvation of souls and ending heresy
 Never yield to anger or passion
 Meet hostility fearlessly, but not encourage it
 Not yield to threats, but not be heartless
 Would be merciful in giving penalties
 Would listen to counsel of others, not trust his own opinion to greatly

 Begins with month long “term of grace”

 Chance for people of area to confess sins to inquisitor
 Those confessing of own free will received suitable penance (pilgrimage, fasting, paying a fine, being flogged) inhabitants then invited to accuse anyone suspected of being a heretic
 Could there be issues with this system?





Trial before inquisitor
Swore their innocence on the 4 Gospels
Person had chance to prove their innocence
(not the case in civil trials)
Names of accusers and witnesses were kept secret





Fear of punishment
 more lenient sentence for confession and those who recanted close confinement (with possible curtailment of food) visits of tried men (tried to get confession through friendly persuasion)
Torture.
 Very last resort
 Okayed by Pope Innocent IV
 Remained controversial





Punishments were largely humane for those who confessed and recanted
Refusing to recant = severe punishment (life imprisonment or burning at the stake)
 Few people were actually executed
Sentence was public, as was execution
From 1249-57, of 306 recorded penalties, only
21 were burnings






Begun by Ferdinand and
Isabella used by state to promote
Spanish unity under
Catholicism
Began as a papal inquisition
 By 1480, Spanish authorities had taken over
Papal sanction, but functioned independently of papacy
Main targets were Jews and Muslims





Lawyers defended accused
If accusations were proven
 Those admitting to accusations offered public reconciliation
 Those denying proven accusations were tortured
Those who refused to recant were burned at the stake
False accusers and false witnesses were severely punished or executed




 methods used definitely violate human rights
Must be careful about placing our values on medieval society
 remember heresy was seen as a serious threat
Truly believed they were protecting the church
While we see punishments and torture as harsh, these were normal in this society
 Civil authorities were more harsh in most cases dealing with heresy



How do people in your society and or your school tend to treat people who have
“unorthodox” views (religious, social, or other kinds of views)?
Relate this to the mindset during the inquisition?