The Cathars: Dualist Heretics in Languedoc in the High Middle Ages
by Malcolm Barber
The Medieval World [Longman] (2000)
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In the second half of the twelfth century, the Catholic Church became convinced that dualist heresy was taking root within Christian society and that it was particularly strong in southern France. The nature and extent of this heresy and the reaction of the Church to the perceived threat have been the focus of extensive research since the mid-nineteenth century, research which has become especially intense in the last decade. Malcolm Barber's second edition of The Cathars (which first show more appeared in 2000) brings readers up-to-date with the challenges to previous conclusions of recent scholarship. At the same time, the wider implications of the subject remain relevant, most importantly the fundamental questions raised by the belief in the existence of evil, the ethical problems presented by the use of coercion to suppress forms of dissent believed to threaten the social and religious fabric, and the distortion of the past to underpin present-day policies and arguments. show lessTags
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Very informative and comprehensive, but difficult to read due to a somewhat haphazard chronology.
THE CATHARS:
DUALIST HERETICS IN LANGUEDOC IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
The Cathars were dualist heretics who, in the twelfth and carly
thirteenth centuries, presented more coherent doctrinal oppositiorn
to the Catholic church than any contemporary movement. They
were present in most areas of Latin Christendom, but they were
particularly strong in southern France and northern Italy, where
they drew adherents from all social classes.
This new book traces the origins and spread of dualist ideas
assesses their attraction for contemporaries, and describes the
reaction of the ecclesiastical and lay authorities in the form of
preaching campaigns, intellectual refutation, crusade, and
inquisitorial investigations. A fascinating account of the development
of show more radical religious belief and the means used to suppress it, this book
raises many important issues which transcend the specifics of time
and place, including the nature of evil, the ethics of warfare, and
the use made of history by later generations.
Richly illustrated, this book will have a wide appeal for all those
interested in medieval perceptions of the world, the Crusades and
the Inquisition.
MALCOLM BARBER
is Professor of History at the University of
Reading. He is the author of The Two Cities Medieval Europe,
1050-1320 (1992), and two books on the Templars, The Trial of
the Templars (1978) and The New Knighthood (1994) show less
DUALIST HERETICS IN LANGUEDOC IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
The Cathars were dualist heretics who, in the twelfth and carly
thirteenth centuries, presented more coherent doctrinal oppositiorn
to the Catholic church than any contemporary movement. They
were present in most areas of Latin Christendom, but they were
particularly strong in southern France and northern Italy, where
they drew adherents from all social classes.
This new book traces the origins and spread of dualist ideas
assesses their attraction for contemporaries, and describes the
reaction of the ecclesiastical and lay authorities in the form of
preaching campaigns, intellectual refutation, crusade, and
inquisitorial investigations. A fascinating account of the development
of show more radical religious belief and the means used to suppress it, this book
raises many important issues which transcend the specifics of time
and place, including the nature of evil, the ethics of warfare, and
the use made of history by later generations.
Richly illustrated, this book will have a wide appeal for all those
interested in medieval perceptions of the world, the Crusades and
the Inquisition.
MALCOLM BARBER
is Professor of History at the University of
Reading. He is the author of The Two Cities Medieval Europe,
1050-1320 (1992), and two books on the Templars, The Trial of
the Templars (1978) and The New Knighthood (1994) show less
Apr 27, 2024Spanish
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Cathars: Dualist Heretics in Languedoc in the High Middle Ages
- Important places
- Languedoc, France
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Religion & Spirituality, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 273.6 — Religion History of Christianity Doctrinal controversies and heresies in general church history Heresies 10th-16th century: Antinomian, Bogomils, Cathars and Patarenes, the Waldenses, the Anabaptists, Paulicians
- LCC
- BX4891.2 .B37 — Philosophy, Psychology and Religion Christian Denominations Christian Denominations Protestantism Pre-Reformation Waldenses and Albigenses
- BISAC
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- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.90)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 1
