Medieval Myths- the Inquisitions

Tolkien R.R.J

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Medieval Inquisitions


Our understanding of heresy and inquisition is not really in sync with the way things were in the middle ages. It has much more to do with early modern concept of Spanish inquisitions witch is a completely different thing”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: The Medieval World, Part II: Society, Economy, and Culture


Why do myths persist despite the exsistance of authentic scholarship that refutes them? because avowed enemies of the church find them useful in discrediting the church and limiting its influence in the world.”
-Steve Weidenkopf The real Story of Catholic History Catholic Answers press 2017


Great historical myths die hard....writers continue to spread traditional myths....even though they are fully aware of the new findings. They do so because they are determined to show that religion, and especially Christianity, is a dreadful curse upon humanity.”
-Rodney Stark Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History



Why Heresy is bad to the Medieval Mind

Heresy was very uncommon in the middle ages and the vast majority recanted when confronted with church theology. They often were misunderstanding spread by people with little of false theological training. Willful heresy was not at all common. To the medieval mind salvation was at stake and eternity. Heretics corrupts the soul and tears apart christian society. If they reject salvation by Christ and lead others astray, that is a disease that needs to be eradicated a serious public health issue. The arrival of the inquisitors was often a cause of celebration by the people. At this time period the soul was more important than the body. The church was responsible for the salvation of the soul. All European secular nations thought heresy was bad and needed to be rid of it. A heretic is a traitor to the King because a Monarch receives his authority from God through the Church witch the heretic rejects. Further the King is concerned he will face judgment from God if a heresy that denied salvation through Jesus is allowed to spread. The Old testament was viewed at actual history that recorded leaders being punished by God for allowing heretical beliefs flourish in their realms. It was the rulers job to rid the area of heretics. We are not that unfamiliar with heretics today. Professor Madden compares heresy to our world were neo Nazis are allowed a television station and radio station and are converting people leading to unrest and violence. In that time period they had different worldviews than we do today. Religion was everything at that time and all society was built around it. Anything done to disrupt Christianity also disrupts the entire way of society and secular life since they were not separated at this time. “Faith” was not a personal inward belief but a set of convictions. It effected culture and politics. Christianity was united at the time in the catholic faith. Heresy was seen as an active threat that sought to convert the faithful. It was seen as a threat to the soul. Further violence follows heresy by dividing communities. It was seen as a danger to souls but also to the social order since it often led to violent rebellions. It was a capital crime in secular law. Again Madden compares to modern times as being similar to if a man was carrying a gun that could shot himself or others. Even today we have heretics, Transphobia , Islamophobia , racism anything that goes against accepted tolerance and diversity. Diversity and tolerance meant nothing to the medieval mind, only truth. Yet since relativism is today's standard, we must not judge other cultures different than ours that allow inquisitions so how can we judge?



Purpose of the Inquisitions


Inquisitions was originally set up to save lives”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: Heaven or Heresy: A History of the Inquisition



The inquisition itself is a product of Roman law. And that means a legal code that had nothing at all to do with Christianity. That developed over many centuries before Christ was even born”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: Heaven or Heresy: A History of the Inquisition



Inquisition in Latin is “to inquire” and it comes from Roman [secular] law. The Secular governments of the time offered no rights to the heretics and the penalty was capital punishment to be burned at stake. Mobs at times lynched heretics without trials. The people would bring to the King or court a heretic and would look for punishments to avoid what they feared would be judgment from God if a heretic was allowed within their sphere. The judge or King would often give the people what they wanted and judge the heretic weather guilty or not to avoid upsetting the people giving the heretic no rights. The inquisitions were not sent to persecute or oppress other views as modern governments do today. The Church was concerned with the souls. They were formed to combat secular persecution of heretics. Persecution lessened under the inquisitions. At the time inquisitions were seen by secular rulers and society as far to lenient and slow. To concerned with the rights of the heretics and treating all equally.

"In France... the Inquisition was established by the authority of the Pope, as an orderly and judicial means of dealing with what was regarded as a terrible social and religious evil. Maycock writes: "In the thirteenth century the secular arm, as a rule, needed no encouragement in the vigorous prosecution of heresy. And, so far as the burning of heretics was concerned, the Inquisition was a damping factor rather than a driving force."Undoubtedly Vacandard is right when he says, 'Taking all in all, the Inquisition in its operation developed a real progress in the treatment of criminals; for it not only put an end to the vengeance of the mob, but it diminished considerably the number of others condemned to death.'
-Eustace Boylan, S.J. THE INQUISITION: IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE


The Church wanted to convert the heretic back to the church and also to see if the heretic actually held heretical opinions to be judged by a knowledgeable theologian of the church. At times the local priest or judge/King were not the best to judge and would declare some views heretical even though they in actuality were not. Most medieval heresies were small and local and were due to bad education followed by recanting.

The vast majority, by far the vast majority of cases in the middle ages are dismissed.... some misunderstanding”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: The Medieval World, Part II: Society, Economy, and Culture


The medieval inquisitors were never numerous”
-Steve Weidenkompf The Real Story of Catholic History Catholic Answers press 2017


The Churches main goal was to save the soul of the heretic and to protect the unity of the church and society. They wanted conversion and not the death of the heretic. Inquisitors were sent to show the heretic why they were wrong and convert them. If the inquisitors failed in there job the heretic was handed over to the state. Inquisitions effected only post baptism Catholics who had fallen from a major doctrine. A list of procedures for papal inquisitors was used to determine if a heretics were in the faith. It did not effect Jews/Muslims. Inquisitors must be men of good faith and good morals and have theological training.

The medieval Inquisition were started in 1184. First Bishops were sent to determine heretics in their area from the Pope. These were to be done before secular law dealt with heretics [who would burn them at the stake] as the secular law was not accurate to determine true faith. Between the years of 1200-1400 inquisitors would move from one place to another, later they would be set up in big cities and heretics would be brought to them. The major heresy of the medieval times occurred in 1231 in the south of France that rejected Jesus divinity and humanity but instead thought him a phantom that did not die on the cross, and that the purpose of life was to free ourselves from bodies and the highest form of worship was suicide. They viewed Yahweh as spirit only and the god deity, and Jehovah was the god of the OT and material creator who created matter to enslave spirits and Yahweh sent Jesus to tell the truth. The church reacted. First the church held councils and condemned the heresy but it continued to spread rapid. An earlier Pope had sent missionaries to teach/preach and worked with secular rulers for help. Later a secular leader kills a papal legate and the pope calls a crusade, not an inquisition, to destroy the Heresy in reaction.


How They Operated

"There was no seeking out of heretics....someone had to accuse someone of being a heretic. And that person the accuser bore a penalty if they were wrong”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: Heaven or Heresy: A History of the Inquisition

Inquisitors come to a area and announce they are their and give a grace period of 30-40 days. They also would teach/preach the faith. They give an area where a heretic can come to confess and be brought back into the church. After the grace period is over the people would bring one accused of heresy and the evidence is gathered to bring a heretic to court where they would be tried. The defendant could gather evidence [and witnesses] and everything said by the defendant was recorded and written down. If they are found guilty, the inquisitors would try and show the heretic why they are wrong and why their soul is in danger, and try to bring them back.


Torture


All the courts of Europe used torture, but the inquisition did so far less than other courts”
-Rodney Stark Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History


Torture in the medieval legal process was understood as “the inquiry after truth by means of torment”
-Steve Weidemkompf The real Story of Catholic History Catholic Answers press 2017


Torture was legal in Roman law, and used by secular courts who used torture far more liberally. Torture was originally not allowed by the inquisitors. Yet it was allowed extensive in secular courts to bring about confession. It was a legal tool not a system of punishment in a time were truth was held above “rights”

In the medieval inquisitor courts, torture was never used as a punishment for heresy ...not approved until 1252... and never became common...several groups of people were automatically excepted, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, knights, members of the nobility, and , in some cases clergy.”
-Steve Weidemkompf The real Story of Catholic History Catholic Answers press 2017


Later, when it was used, it was optional and most inquisitors did not chose to use it. The most famous inquisitor Bernard Gui said not to use it as it was not effective. It was regulated and inquisitors themselves could not use torture. They brought in secular ruler to do so under church regulated guidelines with the intent to get a confession or the truth, not a punishment. It only could be used once after all other options were used up. It was only used when the evidence shows a sure guilty verdict, but no confession has been made. A confession made by a supposed heretic in torture would be given a day of rest, than asked again if their confession was genuine.

Inquisitors themselves were skeptical of the efficacy and validity of torture as a method.”
-Helen Rawlings The Spanish Inquisition Oxford Blackwell 2006



Catechism of the Catholic Church

2298 In times past, cruel practices were commonly used by legitimate governments to maintain law and order, often without protest from the Pastors of the Church, who themselves adopted in their own tribunals the prescriptions of Roman law concerning torture. Regrettable as these facts are, the Church always taught the duty of clemency and mercy. She forbade clerics to shed blood. In recent times it has become evident that these cruel practices were neither necessary for public order, nor in conformity with the legitimate rights of the human person. On the contrary, these practices led to ones even more degrading. It is necessary to work for their abolition. We must pray for the victims and their tormentors.


Punishments

In the vast majority of cases they would be acquitted”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: Heaven or Heresy: A History of the Inquisition


Punishments for heretics that confesses and asked forgiveness were penance, fasting, wear special cloths [yellow with cross for period of time] give alms or go on pilgrimage [crusade]


The penalties generally applied were “immuring” or imprisonment, or still more often, condemnation to pilgrimages or to wear a cloth cross sewn on ones garments”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: Heaven or Heresy: A History of the Inquisition



If the Heretic Refuses

The death sentence was handed down and carried out by the state. The church itself never executed any heretics.”
--Steve Weidenkopf The real Story of Catholic History Catholic Answers press 2017

And the inquisitors cannot help, they give heretic over to the state. Death penalty from the state often was to burn at the stake. The catholic church never killed anyone, it was against cannon law to do so, they handed them over to the state. most cases did not end in death of heretic.

1227-1277 in France 5,000 executed 100 a year
Bernard Gui 16 years 930 judgments 42 given to state or less than 5%


From a medieval perspective, the inquisitions were extremely tolerant and merciful ,in fact, the secular leaders would routinely complain about the inquisitions as being to much of a softy, that they would let people off that really should not have been let go”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: The Medieval World, Part II: Society, Economy, and Culture
 

Tolkien R.R.J

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Spanish Inquisitions


Not controlled by the Popes at all....highly centralized at the crown”
-Thomas Madden The Modern Scholar: Heaven or Heresy: A History of the Inquisition



Really politics, the crown of Spain wanted to consolidate power in the south were the people were a threat to Spain's power.”
-Steve Weidenkopf The real story of the inquisitions teacher of church history at the notre dame graduate school of Christendom collage



The Spanish inquisitions took place during the Renaissance when Europe was returning to centralized power and authority after the Roman model. The Spanish inquisitions were controlled by the state not the Pope who no longer held power over state power. At the time of the Spanish inquisitions there were Christians/Jews/Muslims all living in same land in southern Spain. There were still Muslim armies in southern Spain fighting against the Spanish crown. Many Muslim and Jews converted to Catholicism in Spain. Many catholic citizens were worried that false converts would help Muslim armies invade cities and open the gates to the cities and give information to Muslims armies. Large Jewish populations were in Spain and antisemitism was on the rise due to the plague since were not effected many blamed them. Jews were also in high places in government and many had very high incomes and power. Since converted Jews kept many of the customs of Judaism conspiracy theries started about false converts seeking to take over the crown and persecution increased. The inquisitions were sent to stop persecution of true Jewish converts. In 1478 the Spanish government asked, and was granted by pope, to instill inquisitions because of rumors of false converts. The Inquisitors were used in part, to protect true Jewish and Muslim converts in Spain from mob violence. The inquisitions had support from the people of Spain at the time, it was centered in cities, it did not effect outside the city and it was overall far less powerful and influncial than previously believed. Further the Spanish inquisition freed 1,500 “witches” who they found not guilty and Spain avoided the witch craze due to the inquisitors.


[witch hunts] Rendered comparative harmless...due to the wisdom and firmness of the inquisition.”
-Historian Henry Lea



"From the special problems with which Spain was confronted, and from the policy of the rulers, the Spanish Inquisitors were civil functionaries more than Church officials. "A fair way of putting the case is perhaps this" (says Eliza Atkins Stone, a Protestant writer): "The machinery of the Spanish Inquisition was mainly ecclesiastical; the Vatican had more or less voice in its management, but on the lever was always not the Papal, but the Royal hand." This much is beyond question: It began its career under the definite censure of the Holy See, and the latter, perturbed at its severity, constantly urged clemency. "
-Eustace Boylan, S.J. THE INQUISITION: IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE


Historians of the inquisitions have reveled that in contrast with the secular courts across Europe, the Spanish inquisition was a constant force for justice, restraint, due process, and enlightenment”
-Rodney Stark Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History



The Inquisitors would set up area and preach/teach for a grace period of 30-40 days for heretics to confess and be forgiven. Than the trial with evidence presented. If enough evidence was found to bring them to trial, the defendant was placed in jail, [a church jail much better conditions than secular] and the defendant's were allowed advocates [lawyer] and allowed to give a list of people who hated them that might lie to get you in trouble who would not be allowed to testify against the charged.


Spanish Inquisitions Details

Inquisitors had to be men well trained in theology and morally upright. Used only on baptized christian under royal, not papal control. The inquisitors originally did not follow cannon law or the rules of evidence. Often the claim of a heretic alone would cause a guilty plea without looking at the evidence. Further a heretics land was confiscated and handed over to the Crown if a guilty verdict was reached. This encouraged guilty verdicts to help the crown. The pope was furious but no longer had the power he use to. Pope Sixtus wrote in 1482 to the Spanish crown condemning the inquisitions in Spain. He said they were

moved not by zeal for the faith and the salvation of souls, but by lust and wealth.” and “with no regard to law, have imprisoned many unjustly, have subjected them to dire torments and have unjustly declared heretics and despoiled them, once dead, of their goods”

The pope once sent letters to try and stop the crimes done by the crown during Spanish inquisitions.


Torture


All the courts of Europe used torture, but the inquisition did so far less than other courts”
-Rodney Stark Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History



Torture in secular courts was used regularity. In the inquisitions it was rarely used. Overall torture was used in less than 2% of cases. it could only be used once, it was recorded, a bishop, witnesses, and doctors must all be present. It was limited to 15 minutes at most. If a confession is made they were given a day rest then re-asked. Torture was done by the secular courts not ecclesiastical.


Inquisitors themselves were skeptical of the efficacy and validity of torture as a method.”
-Helen Rawlings The Spanish Inquisition Oxford Blackwell 2000



Punishments


Were usually a fine or prison [often house arrest or monastery house] sometimes the guilty had to wear a yellow shirt with a cross, sometimes flogging was used as a punishment. In Spain Prisoners of secular courts would on purpose commit an offense to be transferred to inquisition prisons as they were better provided for.


If They Wont Confess and are Guilty


The death sentence was handed down and carried out by the state. The church itself never executed any heretics.”
--Steve Weidenkopf The real Story of Catholic History Catholic Answers press 2017


The charged were than handed over to the state and often burned on stake. Church law forbid danger to life or limb nor could they shed blood. Most all cases did not end in secular death penalty.

"Fewer than 2% of total tried received the death penalty. During the 16th and 17th century fewer than three persons a year were but to death from Sicily to puru,a lower rate than any court in Spain or Europe, secular courts had higher rate of death penalty."
-The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision Paperbackby Henry Kamen


"less than three people per year were sentenced to death by the Inquisition throughout the Spanish Empire, which ranged from Spain to Sicily and Peru. Secular historians given access to the Vatican’s archives in 1998 discovered that of the 44,674 individuals tried between 1540 and 1700, only 804 were recorded as being relictus culiae saeculari. The 763-page report indicates that only 1 percent of the 125,000 trials recorded over the entire inquisition ultimately resulted in execution by the secular authority, which means that throughout its infamous 345-year history, the dread Spanish Inquisition was less than one-fourteenth as deadly on an annual basis as children’s bicycles. for the history and what led up to the Inquisitions.
Atheists and inquisition - WND

1480-1530 At the height of Spanish inquisitions 2,000 were executed or 40 a year. From 1480-1700 they averaged 10 deaths a year in Spain. Over 350 years the entire time of the events, 4,000 in Spain were executed [some estimated as low as 3,000 across all of Europe see stark]. 95% of Spanish citizens never saw or encountered and inquisitor in their life.


"taking into account all the tribunals of spain up till 1530, it is unlikely that more than 2,000 people were executed"
-Henry Kamen The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision



Result


Spain had religious peace and unity in society. There were many religious wars in Europe at the time and Spain was free from them.


"A renowned historian here presents a new view of the notorious Spanish Inquisition, arguing that there was less terror, bigotry, and persecution associated with it than has been previously believed. Based on thirty years of research, the book will revolutionize further study in the field."
-Henery Kamen The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision Yale University Press; 1997



Total deaths from inquisitions in all of history


slight less than 10,000.
done by church 0
done by state 10,000

compared with the atheistic french revolution that persecuted Catholics over 3 years death totals

Guillotined, 17,000; shot at Toulon, 2000; drowned at Mantes, men, women, and children, 4,800. Then there were the murders by the mob about 10,000 were killed without trial in the province of Anjou alone.


Compare with the 6,832 members of the Catholic clergy murdered in the Spanish Republican Red Terror of 1936 is more than twice the number of the victims of 345 years of inquisition.

From 1530-1630 the secular court of England averaged 750 hangings a year for offenses as light as minor theft.

"Even adjusting for changes in population size, atheist regimes are responsible for 100 times more death in one century than Christian rulers inflicted over five centuries.As for the Inquisition, much of the modern stereotype was largely made up by Spain’s political enemies, and later by anti-Christians. The Inquisition only had authority over professing Christians, and the Inquisition trials were often fairer and more lenient than their secular counterparts. Often the only penalty given was some sort of penance such as fasting. Over a period of 350 years, historians such as Henry Kamen15 estimate only between 1,500 and 4,000 people were executed for heresy."

During the French Atheistic revolution the government Drowned, killed thousands of priests, nuns and bishops. Nuns were killed naked thrown into a common grave. Took church property. Closed monasteries and convents while dissolving religious orders. Took away their money through tithes. Confiscated valubels. Did away with church holidays, names of streets, towns etc. Could not have public displayed of crosses and outdoor worship was outlawed [separation of church and state] No visible statues or church bells could not be rung. Only supported the “state” clergy who were the ones that did what the state wanted and gutted Christianity. Criminalized non state clergy. The death penalty to any who harbored non state priest [Jews in ww2] Priest could not wear Priestley cloths or nuns and bishops. Tombstones were smashed that were crosses. No building could be purchased for “religious” purposes. Cults replaced Christianity. The cult of reason worshiped a statue of the godess of reason and they met in the cathedral of notre damn.


Lenin came into power he executed priest, bishops, nuns and monks by the thousands. Closed monasteries and convents and imprisoned or shut up in labor camps and mental hospitals. In 1922 their was a concentration camp for clergy on an island in the white sea and they were executed by firing squad. 200,000 in all were killed for their faith. Throughout Russia they were crucified, mutilated, castrated, frozen alive, buried alive, burned, thrown into burning tar, scalped, strangled, drowned, and given communion with melting lead. Estimated that as many as 20 million in all were killed for their religion in Russia. Same kinds of things to a lesser extent happened in Spain during the civil war.
 
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