main threat to the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages became heretics - apostates who questioned the teachings of the Pope, the interpretation of the Gospel and the holiness of the clergy.His ideas they brought to the people, causing widespread unrest and outbreaks of rebellion.During this period the church investigation in the fight against heretics became one of the main instruments to eliminate dissidents.Brief description
period
Middle Ages - an unprecedented period of prosperity and power of the church.At the turn of XII-XIII centuries the pope was Innocent III.He proclaimed himself the vicar of Christ on earth and being educated, clever and deft diplomat, do their utmost to strengthen the position of his throne.
He made the church an investigation in the fight against heretics above secular (royal) court, organized the Fourth Crusade, skillfully used the Franciscan order of mendicant friars and the Order of St. Dominic, which were very popular among the common people and dexterity Innocent III strengthened the authority of the Church.
Later ecclesiastical investigation in the fight against heretics (the Inquisition) has been used to eliminate the enlightened scientists and simply unwanted persons.Children with physical disabilities were announced on Satan's children, beautiful women - witches, sorceress and midwife accused of conspiring with the devil.All of them are also victims of the Inquisition.
Who are the heretics?
church shared all the people on the estate.Upper-class clergy declared, middle - the king and the nobility, lower - the people.The point of the upper class - Protection layman soul from sin, begging for God's forgiveness of all the inhabitants of the earth.The nobility was to protect the king and clergy from the enemy, and the task of the people - to feed and contain both.
preaching clerics urged all humility and gentleness, was taught to "know their place" and not to resist the will of God, did not collect treasures on earth, caring more for the salvation of souls.However, they themselves are concentrated in their hands great wealth, wore expensive clothes in and surround yourself in comfort.Not in misery and nobility.People also curled in nischite.This polarity could not cause disturbances.There are those who loudly denounced hypocrisy "servants of God", he expressed doubts about their teaching and holiness.This greatly undermines the authority of the Pope.
These brave dissenters were declared apostates, heretics (carried heresy, insult the holy doctrine).A real struggle with the Catholic Church as heretics.Savagely destroyed not only the apostates, but also their families, uprooting potential threat.
How was church investigation in the fight against heretics?
basis of this struggle began to punitive measures.Dissenters were declared apostates (heretics), they were thrown into prison, kept in inhumane conditions, subjected to terrible torture, after all, he was sentenced to a terrible punishment - burned alive at the stake.
As a rule, the church was a minister in one person and the prosecutor and the investigator and judge.Through ecclesiastical investigation in the fight against heretics, the basis for the charges taken mainly denunciations, the majority of which was obtained under torture again.In 99 cases out of 100, those who fell into the dungeons of the Inquisition, did not come out alive.Their property was confiscated and divided mainly between church and king.Some part of getting any local nobleman, of the parish which was originally a heretic.
consequences of the Inquisition
There are documents proving that for several centuries until the continued struggle of the church against the heretics, were killed 12 million people in Europe.
