Witchcraft and the Inquisition of the Catholic Church Essay -- Essays

witchery and the Inquisition of the Catholic ChurchWitchcraft. The word in itself evokes a authorized kind of eeriness. In past centuries, people who were accused of being witches were sight of to be the worst kinds of people there are. on that point were several(prenominal) kinds of witches and several ways in which they operated. Whatever the source, the Catholic Church saw witches, or those accused of being witches, as underworldful. Partly to stop this kind of sin and other forms, the Inquisition of the Catholic Church was implemented. It is important to know what the factors lead-in up to the Inquisition included to fully understand its implementation. Once the archives is reviewed it is easy to see how the Faith of the Church and the reason behind its idea were hand-in-hand at the time, and also the way in which they seemingly conflict today. There are many factors leading up to the establishment of the Inquisition by the Catholic Church. One of the main factors is th e beginning of the Middle Ages in Europe. A symbol of these emerging ages is Pope Gerbert of the year 1000. Although he was a Pope, he was learned in algebra, and because of his knowledge he was considered somewhat of a wizard. He once wrote to a friend in Italy asking for secular books create verbally in Latin. He instructs the friend to make sure the books are procured quietly. (Nickerson 12) . Nickerson feels that this makes Gerbert a symbol of his generation because it is out of similar knowledge that the Medieval times arise. Around the same time, the Normans were conquering England, the Church begins to have a viridity purpose, and the First Crusade begins. Although the Church was secure in its universality, two groups, the Albigensians and Waldensians emerged, each(prenominal) with very di... ...ured endlessly. Finally, all people were allowed to believe what they wanted to believe. Faith and reason were in harmony. BibliographyBooks James B. Given, Inquisition and M edieval Society Power, Discipline, and Resistance in Languedoc. (Ithaca Cornell University Press, 1997). Hoffman Nickerson, The Inquisition A Political and Military Study of its Establishment. (Port Washington, NY. Kennkiat Press, Inc., 1968). Mary Elizabeth Perry, and Anne J. Cruz, cultural Encounters The Impact of the Inquisition in Spain and the NewWorld. (Berkeley, CA. University of California Press, 1991). Albert C. Shannon, O.S.A., The Medieval Inquisition. (Collegeville, manganese Liturgical Press, 1991). Internet Sources Hilgers, Joseph. Index of Prohibited Books. The Catholic Encyclopedia.URL