Throughout medieval times, variables such as wealth, gender roles and the growing concern of witchcraft challenged the authority of the Church. Because each of these themes are unique to their circumstances and elicited different if not similar responses from both those involved and those observing, it is relevant to detect and understand why these different events took place, and what became of the people who drove these actions. In chapters four, five and six of Deane’s A History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition, each of these themes respectively was discussed in detail. The first of the previously mentioned concepts that challenged the authority of the Church is wealth. This was problematic as a good Christian was thought to have few worldly possessions and pride, however once in power, the men of the church had an abundance of these.…
Within the text “The Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas”, a firsthand account of the actions taken by early Christian martyrs is displayed in vivid detail. The interactions frame an insightful look into the life of a Christian who was being prosecuted, showcasing how gender and the outside world both influenced how and why Perpetua and her fellow Christians were martyred. Perpetua, the main character and narrator of this text, is a woman who refuses to give up her faith even though she is threated with death. This is similar to the ideals presented by the “Acts of Thecla” where Thecla acted in almost complete independence form the typical familial structure, even under the threat of violence. Perpetua reflects this within her own narrative, refusing to renounce her faith in order to be sparred, even with her child having to be separated from her and her father pleading for her to renounce Christianity.…
Many events and conflicts in history have arose based on its root in extremism. Throughout history, paranoia implemented by the church and enforced by the court has caused citizens of specific societies to go into hysterics, and has caused them and their governments to commit extreme acts of injustice. The Heretic’s Daughter takes place in 17th century Massachusetts and tells the story of the Carrier Family. The Carrier Family, including Martha, Thomas, Richard, Andrew, Tom, Sarah and Hannah Carrier face many challenges during this time period which force them to experience extremism that lead to Martha Carrier’s death.…
While the aforesaid matters surrounding the Pauper’s Army incursion into the holy land were essentially brush stroked, there are two corresponding points to present that bind the historical events with the stated purpose of this evaluation. The first is the horrific, genocide-centered activities endeavored by Peter and Williams’ army prior to their departure and incursions into the lands held by Colomon and the Turks. The second is the lackluster manner by which they proceeded, and were summarily destroyed, resulting in the deaths of close to 20,000 ‘crusaders’. For all their religious fervor, the Pauper’s Crusade has been historically touted as the will of the people. The peasants and Christians who sought grander opportunities,…
In the village of Valverde de Lucerna, there is a priest that is deceiving his congregation by making them think he is a Christian and that he believes in the resurrection of the immortal soul. The only two people in the village that knows his secret is his step-daughter Angelita and his step-son Lazarus. According to Howard Mancing “He has lived a lie all his adult life, sacrificing like a martyr, his own true belief for the sake of his innocent and ignorant parishioners” (Mancing). The priest San Manuel Bueno lives a lie his whole adult life because he becomes a priest in a village, but he doesn’t even believe in Christianity and is sacrificing his own religion. According to Angelita, San Manuel Bueno religion is “mine consists in consoling myself by consoling others, even though consolation” (Unamuno).…
Throughout human history there have been many great heroes. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, and many more. But there are also plenty of heroes people have heard very little or nothing at all about. Mary Anning is one of those heroes. Mary Anning was born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, England in a poor family.…
The practically non-existent archival documents from the Byzantine era have forced historians to look to other sources as a means of understanding the significance of this great empire. Scholars have therefore turned to the abundance of surviving hagiographical documents such as lives of saints, passions of martyrs, collections of miracles, liturgical poetry, and translations of relics from Late Antiquity to the fall of the Eastern Empire. These accounts have been preserved in thousands of manuscripts and continue to be translated, studied, and modified by modern scholars. Not only are there so many diverse Byzantine saints’ lives produced throughout the empire’s existence, but a number of vitae have been written by more than one author. Older…
Summary In “History as Judgment and Promise in A Canticle for Leibowitz,” Dominic Manganiello argues that the idea of History within A Canticle for Leibowitz can serve as judgment, promise, and religious bias by examining the close relation between the church and historical memorabilia. Manganiello identifies History as a myth in which it is vulnerable to historical bias through false representations of previous generations as well as the heavy monastic influence the church has on historical records and its publicity to the public. The article focuses on the power of the monastery within and narrows in on “The Flame Deluge” and “Lucifer” to examine the reasoning behind the historical bias.…
Pope Urban II started the First Crusade to help Byzantine Christians, to manifest papal authority, and to provide redemption for Christian souls. Thomas Asbridge¹ in his book, The First Crusade, explains that in the advent of the First Crusade in 1095, the papacy was slowly recovering. In the events leading up to the First Crusade, Europe had undergone significant political and social upheaval. The Church was divided with Eastern Christians following Orthodoxy and Western Christians following Catholicism.…
Therefore, the historical question to be answered within is--were the Crusades a ‘holy’ war, or a successive series of unholy armed hajj’s? It is reasoned, in advance, that the latter is believed to be the resulting response. Accordingly, since the Crusades encompass over two centuries of history, this examination seeks to collate and analyze but a scant few ‘activities’; the hostile incursions into friendly lands, the unspeakable acts committed by Christians and Muslims alike, the disorganized bands of pilgrims and children alike, and the genocides conducted—all in the name of God mind you—throughout the dozen or more Crusades. The first to answer the call of Pope Urban II were the people, or paupers, of Europe; chief among them…
In The Passion of Ss. Perpetua and Felicitas translated by H.R. Musurillo symbolism, diction, and imagery are used to showcase the pain and suffering that comes with the road to martyrdom. Perpetua’s struggle on the road to martyrdom allowed for much symbolism to the Christian faith that she was proclaiming.…
Michele Gelaude Friday, June 26, 2015 THEO 60250: Intro to Early Church Themes within the Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp Martyrdom, having its prominence during the third and fourth centuries, lasted for approximately 300 years under many different rulers. Emperors were intolerant toward Christianity and responded by putting Christians on trial, asking them to deny their faith or lose their life. The Christian martyrs who clung to their Christian faith showed the Spirit at work with their depth of discipleship. Similar to the martyrdom of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Perpetua, and Felicity, Saint Polycarp exemplified themes of Liturgy, veneration of the martyrs, and imitation of Christ. However, the narrative of Polycarp’s martyrdom…
This paper will now proceed to the societal comparative analysis between the levels of secularism between Italy and France. Two cases will be analyzed in this section of the essay, the French hijab bullshit and the Italian crucifix being displayed in public buildings bullshit. The law allowing for the crucifixes to be displayed inside the classrooms, the Italian courts, and hospitals was passed in 1924 by Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini (Thomas, R. Murray, 2007). After the Second World War in 1948, Italy passed a new constitution, which officially made the state a secular one (Thomas, R. Murray, 2007). This did not entirely change the role of the Catholic Church in Italy as it continued to experience special privileges such as the…
Often in life there are decisions that start with a worthy purpose, with good planning, and the right heart, but even with all the right factor combinations, things can spiral uncontrollably downward. This is the case behind the crusades. A sad and dark period of Christian and Muslim history with no real winners on either side. Even with the godliest of intentions, mankind must learn when to turn around and say enough is enough. If only this lesson had been learned during the grueling two hundred years of the crusade battles, fewer lives would have been lost and destroyed on both sides of the line.…
As she woke from her vision with a sweet taste in her mouth, she realized that as a martyr she would have to suffer. Felicity feared that she would not give birth before the date of the executions and be left behind by her companions as it was illegal to execute pregnant women. Luckily, or more likely, though faith,…