The Chruch's Treatment Of Heretics During The Medieval Ages

For most civilizations, religious figures have had a large influence over the lives of the common people. The Roman Catholic Church was a very influential figure in many civilizations. It can trace its origins to over 2000 years ago. One of the Church’s most influential periods of this time was the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Church played a very big role in the lives of the people during that period. For many, it was the center of their life. The three most important impacts of the Church on medieval life were their secular roles concerning laws and their position over the state, the way that the Church unified Europe, and their power over the common people.

During the Middle Ages, heresy was one of the prime issues that affected the solidarity of the Church. In order to maintain the

Towards the end of the Middle Ages and into the duration of the Renaissance, the Medieval Church’s social and political power dwindled. Centuries prior the Catholic Church gained a surplus of control, largely due to the stability it maintained during the chaotic breakdown of the Western Roman Empire . Yet toward the end of the Middle Ages the Church set in motion factors that would ultimately lead to its downfall as the definitive figure of authority. However, despite political and social controversy surrounding the church, the institutions it established cleared a path for a new way of thinking, shaping society in an enduring way.

During the Medieval period, avid church goers and clergymen had many fears regarding heresy, one of which was the spread of doubt within the faith. In a time when only churchmen could read and write, it was their teachings of the

When the Roman Empire collapsed, the Catholic Church was the only powerful authority not complete disrupted by the attack by barbarians. In fact, the work of great Popes is what helped their power increase even more. The newly christened barbarians, done by the Pope Gregory the Great, inaugurated a new age in Jesus Christ called Christendom. All culture in Christendom conformed to that of the Church’s, and, with its headquarters in Rome, the powerful “papal monarchs”, as they were called, controlled the machine that was the Catholic Church.

The term “heresy” on the other hand, was a neutral term that eventually gave way to its more commonly known “technical, pejorative sense” by the time of Ignatius (p.117). In order to illustrate these complexities, Butler examines the Montanist movement of the second and third centuries (p.119-133). Though considered heretical by Church leaders in Asia Minor by the third century, Montanism gained many orthodox adherents in North Africa represented by Tertullian and the martyrs Perpetua and Falicitas (p.133-137). Butler is careful to point out that Montanism was rejected, not because of false doctrine, but because of “unacceptable practices” (p.138). This is an example of how a belief that was considered to be heretical “in one community was acceptable in another”

The 95 Theses is an attack on the Catholic church that was meant for people to realize how corrupt the church had become. This all started with a monk named Martin Luther. He first tried to talk with the leaders of the church when he first started to realize how corrupt they were. When they said they had nothing to discuss and denied to listen to him he then decided to write the 95 Theses.

This was a very powerful institution involved in all aspects of people’s lives. As previously stated, anyone who went against or defied the church was known as a heretic. A heretic is defined as a baptized Roman Catholic who willfully and persistently rejects any article of faith and who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle. An example of this was a Spanish theologian, and humanist Michael Servetus. He participated in the Reformation and was condemned by Catholics. He was arrested and burnt at the stake as a heretic by order of governing council. Just like Servetus, others started to believe they could worship God through a personal relationship. They did not feel they needed the Church alone and its authorities as the only channel. These people were known as Humanists and they relied heavily upon information gathered directly from the Bible

Before the Reformation was redesigned, there were brutal religious rivalries on a daily basis. The Bible was used, dramatically, in restricting authority and actions of citizens; brainwashing, and surrounding their lives in the Catholic Church. Due to the amount of effort forced upon citizens, they believed passionately and strongly in the word of the Pope and Church; citizens would torture, while the Church would imprison anyone who questioned or mislead the obstructions of their authorities. The horrific events citizens had to witness were some of the most challenging and confusing during this era.

In the void left by the collapse of the Roman Empire, the bishop of Rome grew even more in both power and prestige beginning in the sixth century and continuing to the reformation in the ninth century. It is the aim of this paper to explain how and why the papacy in Rome became the center of power of the medieval world, the factors contributing to this dominance over Western Europe, and the positive and negative ramifications of the position becoming so powerful. Through this paper you will discover how papacy was able to fill the vacuum of power left by the fall of an empire.

The sections of history mentioned within this essay discuss very important events of religious history. Within each section a person or group of people are rebelling against the religious norm of their time. Erasmus, In Praise of Folly, Martin Luther, “The Ninety-five Theses,” The Twelve Articles of the Peasants of Swabia, and The English Act of Supremacy, 1534 are all writings that exemplify this aspect.

The Roman Catholic Church was an extremely powerful organization during the middle ages and for the most part controlled all aspects of people’s lives. However, this organization does not last forever and over time begins to crack and crumble until a series of schisms split the church into multiple opposing sides. The Church’s message and authority was eventually undermined by corruption and the lay people demanding reform.

At the beginning of the period during the Medieval Times, the Catholic Church had power and influence over everyone's lives. The church built up its power over the years through superstition and engraining in people’s minds that the only way to heaven was through church. People believed this because they were not exposed to any other formal education and anyone that spoke against the church was subject to heretics. Toward the end of the period, after

The Reformation proved to be somewhat of a complicated time period, but why? This question carries with it many more, but the real mystery at stake here is whether everyone’s actions were solely in the act of God, or if they were hiding something deeper at hand.

During the medieval period, the Church maintained authority by flaunting its wealth, fear and power. Around 500-1500c, Christianity escalated rapidly around Europe, gaining significant power and authority. The people under the Churches power, had to pay a tithe, which was 10% of all they owned. This made the church extremely wealthy. They had enough money to build a Parish church in every village; Parish Churches were usually the biggest and most prestige building in the village. Another way the Catholic Church gained power was by using God’s name as leverage to there royal court, but they usually sided with the king, because of his power.The Church also used fear as a technique