Exam 1 - Medieval Christianity - Short Answer Flashcards
Who was Charlemagne and why is he significant for understanding church history?
a. He was king of the franks crowned emperor of Rome by Leo III in 800 AD.
b. He marked relationship between emperor and pope for next 7-8 centuries. Formed alliance between political power and north and Church power in West.
c. Unity and peace allowed for world to be lifted out of dark ages.
What was the filioque controversy and how did it affect the church?
a. Filioque means “and the son” and was a phrase the western church added to the Nicene creed about where the Holy Spirit proceeds from to fight against Arianism. Based on theology of Augstine.
b. When this term was unilaterally added to the creed, the eastern church disagreed with it. This lead to further division between the two churches.
What were some of the factors that led to the growing alienation between the eastern and western halves of the church?
a. Differences in language, culture, religious practices, theology (not as much content but method, including -nature of Trinity, Filioque). And tensions heightened from crusades and Muslim intrusion.
b. Fundamental tho was how each church came to perceive itself. In West, they viewed the Pope as the main authority. In the East, they viewed the emperor as the main authority. East viewed churches operating autonomously already, so rejected papal authority.
What were the reasons for launching the Crusades? What resulted from them?
a. Muslim occupation of Jerusalem and threats to the eastern church led to Pope Urban the II call to take up the crusade in 1095
b. Result lead to deeply damaged relationship between western Christians and others. Also, the Crusade increased trade and stepped up Europe’s economic growth
Who were the Franciscans and the Dominicans? How were they distinct from one another?
a. Part of the reform missions movements for monks that combined the main aspects of the monastic movement (poverty, chastity, and obedience) with missions.
b. The main difference was that the frans distrusted education and universities while the Dominicans dedicated themselves to scholarship and teaching, as well as preaching.
Define “scholasticism.”
a. scholasticism: the joining together or theology and philosophy to make the ways of God understandable and rationally acceptable
b. “scholasticism” refers to the practice of resolving apparent discrepancies (in a text, in the corpus of a particular author, or between various thinkers) by (1) laying all the apparent discrepancies and (2) showing how they can be resolved by philological (i.e., redefining terms) or logical (i.e., arguing that there contradictions are not “real” contradictions) analysis.
Who was Thomas Aquinas and why was his theology important?
a. Greatest Scholastic theologian who discovered the philosophy of Aristotle and sought to bring it into alignment with Church teaching. Came up with 5 ways to prove existence of God based on reason alone. Developed doctrine of Transubstantiation.
What is the “Babylonian Captivity of the Church”?
a. The church is in captivity in French wine country.
b. All seven French popes during this time were under thumb of French king. French king holds both swords.
c. Popes, clergy lived lavish and immoral lifestyle.
d. Pope Gregory the 11th brought it back to Rome in 1378
What were the key emphases of the conciliar movement? Why did the popes resist this development?
a. To have a church council with authority over the pope in the governance and reform of the church. As soon as council saved the papacy during the Great Schism, the pope reversed the authority of the council. The popes wanted to be the one ultimately in charge.
Why is understanding monasticism during this time period so important? What was the dominant form of monasticism in the west throughout the middle ages? Why did monasticism continually find itself in need of reform? What were the major monastic reform movements and what were they concerned about?
a. With the decline of morality and theology in the church, the monastic movement played a vital role in challenging the church and supplying its leaders and missionaries.
b. Communal Monasticism became dominant. Rule of St. Benedict. Primarily Cluniac monasticism.
c. They needed reform because of their interweaving with secularism (land owned by secular powers meant leaders were selected for personal choices. Became rich as a community)
d. Cluniac Reform – Religious reform that led to monks focusing solely on religious life. Organizational reform that centralized control to the pope. Many Cluny monks became bishops and priests. Lead to overall spiritual reform and health of church.
e. Franciscan and Dominican Reform – combined main aspects of monasticism (poverty, chastity, obedience) with mission
Who were the key figures for the rise of the papacy in the early middle ages? Why were they significant?
a. Historical circumstances greatly contributed. Roman Bishop most powerful person in Rome when capital shifted to East.
b. Damasus - Claimed his see was Apostolic see. Claimed the creeds of councils had authority bc they were endorsed by bishop of Rome.
c. Leo the I, Leo the Great – significant Roman Leader because of fall of Rome. His theology was significant in shaping Christology at Council of Chalcedon. Wanted to have final say on all church disputes. Claimed authority over entire world.
d. Gelasius – he stressed priests are more important authority bc they must give an account to God. Therefore, emperor must submit to priests.
e. Gregory the great in 590 – situation in Rome was very dire. Turning point in history of Papacy. Powerful political leader that protected Rome against Lombards. Powerful political, ecclesiastical and theological leader.
