The Inquisition and Protestant Reformation Flashcards
What is the Medieval Papal Inquisition (12-13th century)?
- Southern France and Northern Italy
- Response to heretical movements
Catharism: Good God and Bad God
Waldesians: Poverty = Salvation
Believed everyone should have a Bible in their vernacular language
Maintain order, protect Church power and offer heretics a way to change their ways
What was the Papal Counter-Reformatory Inquisition (1542-1908) and the Council of Trent?
Counter-Reformatory:
- Largely to combat Protestantism
- Combat heresy and anything else that went against Church doctrine
- 1545-1563 (Council of Trent)
Council of Trent:
- The Catholic Church had the final say on the Bible
- Any other is heretical
- Need good works to get into Heaven
- Bible and Chruch have equal authority
- Indulgences = ok (indulgences bought you out of time in purgatory so you would go to Heaven faster)
- Began the Index of Forbidden Books
One of which was Copernicus’
What was the Papal Counter-Reformatory Inquisition (1542-1908) and the Council of Trent?
Counter-Reformatory:
- Largely to combat Protestantism
- Combat heresy and anything else that went against Church doctrine
- 1545-1563 (Council of Trent)
Council of Trent:
- The Catholic Church had the final say on the Bible
- Any other is heretical
- Need good works to get into Heaven
- Bible and Chruch have equal authority
- Indulgences = ok (indulgences bought you out of time in purgatory so you would go to Heaven faster)
- Began the Index of Forbidden Books
One of which was Copernicus’
How did the Church get rid of Heresy?
- Preached Sermon:
Inquisitor would preach to town about the sin of heresy - Term of Grace:
1-4 weeks – voluntary confessions sought
If you stepped forward, you often received a limited punishment (pilgrimage, yellow cross on clothing, imprisonment, lashings, etc) - Denunciation:
If you did not confess, you were at risk of being denounced
Only required 2 witnesses for persecution - “Voluntary” Summons:
Politely summoned - appearance voluntary
Absence taken as evidence of guilty - Secret Trial:
Not told the names of your accusers
suspect s asked to name those who might bear them ill will – if the names of denoucers were on the list, you were often set free
Accused could not call witnesses or have counsel present - Prison:
Ranged 3-4 years
Often had to pay your own prison expenses
If you refused to recant your heresy, you would be handed over to secular authorities and most likely burned at the stake
The Church would not administer the death sentence
What was the Scientific Revolution and the Beliefs of the Medieval ages?
The Scientific Revolution
- Advances in math and technology allowed scientists to demonstrate the proof of abstract theories using clear and logical reasoning
- Discoveries in astronomy led to new views about the universe
- These were very different from the Church’s traditional teachings
The Middle Ages and Renaissance
- Relied on the Church to solve all questions related to the natural world.
Middle Ages Beliefs:
1. Relied on the Church for beliefs about the structure of the universe – centered on religion
2. Geocentric Model placed the Earth at the center of the universe with the sun and moon revolving around it
3. Why? The Clergy were the most educated so their ideas were upheld
Scientific Revolution Discoveries:
1. Scholars (humanists) began to challenge the Church
2. Geocentric Model was disproven
3. Scientists and mathematicians began to think empirically, using experiments and evidence to solve problems which often disproved the Church’s theories
What was the Renaissance (~1350-~1600)?
- The Renaissance: A period characterized by a renewed interest in Greek and Roman culture, including humanism, reason, creativity, and the power of the individual (“Rebirth”)
- The Humanist thinkers believed in the importance of art and literature, along with faith
Focused on a life of reason rather than religion - At the time of the Renaissance, the Catholic Church had power over not only European politics but also economics
What was the Protestant Reformation?
- Protestant Reformation: Based on the idea that God could be known and worshipped without the need for an authorized hierarchy of priests under the leadership of the Pope
- Reflected on the Renaissance belief that reason was as important as faith to believers of Christianity
- Led to increased contact with non-Christian societies which brought further change to traditional politi al and economic thought.
The bible was written in the common language of the day (Old Testament in Hebrew, New Testament in Greek) —> This allowed Christians to interpret Scripture for themselves and form their own beliefs about faith —> The Bible was translated to Latin during the Middle Ages. This made it harder for Christians to interpret individually as only priests and highly educated men could read latin —> If the Bible was translate into the vernacular (common language) than everyone could read God’s word without priests translating the meaning for them —> God’s word needs no go-between (the common people didn’t need the Church to tell them what the Bible meant)
