The Origins of Catharism

The term cathar derives from the Grecian word katharos, meaning pure. much(prenominal) purity was the ultimate refinement of the Cathars, a religious concourse that believed the human soul had been gaol in flesh and rent to suffer on human beings by an evil god. Catharism was regarded as a heretical worship by the papistical Catholic church and had thus been kill by the late 1300s. In the mid-15th century, the few remaining Cathars fled to Germany, where they were vex on trials for alleged crimes of heresy. From these trials could be seen the shadow of the witchcraft vehemence that would seize Europe for the nigh 200 years.\nThe origins of catharism are a mystery, though the movement is believed to ache emerged in the Byzantine pudding stone during the 12th century. It spread to Croatia from the Balkans, a Byzantine territory, and eventually to north or so Italy, the Netherlands, and several German states. The trust especially thrived in gray France, where it was w elcomed as a popular alternative to Catholicism. Catharisms earliest form was likely to put up been the Gnostic derivative of Christianity, only there is also the possibility that its roots were Manichaen, an Eastern Manichaean religion. The doctrines of Catharism suggest that it was one of the most ancient forms of Christianity, as it maintained ancient practices and beliefs that other branches of Christianity had discontinued. In any case, the Catholic church service viewed the Cathars as neo-Manichaens, a radical of heretics which Pope Innocent tether declared were worse than the Saracens (1) (Coppens, The Cathars: The fight for and of a New Church).\nThe Cathars believed they were good Christians (McDonald, Cathars and Cathar Beliefs in the Languedoc), and that the Roman Catholic Church followed adulterated Christian principles that distorted proto(prenominal) Christian beliefs. Cathar theology was strengthened on doctrines of Dualism and Gnosticism. The Cathar grou p believed in the dualistic view of both g... If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website:

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