medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>Were ALL the inquisitors nice, sincere, well-meaning
>chaps? Probably not. But then, neither am I, so I
>hope that is not just cause for disapprobation.
>
>
The strategies and judgements employed by inquisitors varied from person
to person and place to place, often tailored to the activities of
specific (real or perceived) heretics and embedded within the local
political and social context. It is this specific context which is
explored in
James B. Given's book 'Inquisition and Medieval Society: Power,
Discipline and Resistance in Languedoc' (1997, Cornell), illustrating
that whilst inquisitors represented an altogether different type of
authority, they were (like other types of authority) resisted,
manipulated, encouraged and ignored depending on the circumstances. When
trying to understand medieval societies, I think it's more useful to
consider inquisitors (or for that matter anyone else involved in or
aiding inquisitorial activities) as well as individuals or groups deemed
'heretical' in this light rather than as 'bad guys' Vs. 'good guys'.
Aleks Pluskowski
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