Changing Policy on Medieval Heresy Essay -- essays research papers

Heresy, as defined by the medieval church, is 'an opinion chosen by human perception, found on the scriptures, contrary to the teachings of the church, publicly avowed and obstinately defended' (Moore ix). The word 'Heresy' originates from the Greek word, 'Hairesis', meaning 'choice' (George xi). During the Medieval time period, which stretched from the 700's to the 1400's, heresies became sought out as religious alternatives to the constraining Catholic Church (George 342, Roach 11). The common people began to become increasingly more educated (Roach 52). With this came the ability, the need, to question authority (Moore 3, Roach 59). Because of the Church's religious monopoly and the laity's demand for knowledge, heresy became a widespread practice across Europe during the Middle Ages, causing the Church to reconsider their methods of controlling the spread of heresy and devise new ways to appease the opposing heretical factions. The Roman Catholic Church, which had once been a unification of the churches of both the Byzantine Empire and the Western Empire, divided into the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western Roman Catholic Church (Hamilton and Hamilton 4). The Eastern Orthodox Church, located in Constantinople, spoke out greatly against heresy: ?The Faith of the three hundreds and eighteen fathers assembled at Nicaea...shall not be set aside, but shall remain firm. And every heresy shall be anathematized? (Roach 10). The Church despised heresies and tried to abolish heresy using any method they could (Moore 8-10). Heresy?s spread through Europe was not appreciated by the Church, but it remained unquestioned by the larger part of the civilian population for a time because people began to make more choices in their lives... ...orced to reevaluate their means of suppressing the rising heresies and the heresies devised new ways to fit better into society (George xiv). Cited 1. George, Leonard. Crimes of Perception: an Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics. New York, Paragon House, 1995. 2. Hamilton, Janet and Bernard Hamilton. Christian Dualist Heresies in the Byzantine World c. 650-c. 1450. New York: Manchester University, 1998. 3. Lambert, Malcolm. Medieval Heresy: Popular Movements from Bogomil to Hus. New York: Homes & Meier, Inc, 1976. 4. Leff, Gordon. Heresy in the Later Middle Ages: The Relation of Heterodoxy to Dissent c. 1250-c. 1450. New York: Manchester University, 1969. 5. Moore, R.I. The Origins of European Dissent. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1985. 6. Roach, Andrew P. The Devil?s World: Heresy and Society 1100-1300. United Kingdom: Pearson Education, 2005.