why was religion important in the middle ages?

Answer 1

Religion is always important, no more so than today, especially the modern 'religion' of worshipping self.

Answer 2

I'm afraid the reason is far more earthly than heavenly.

By "the church in the middle ages" we mean "Roman Catholic," and this is where the greatest thinkers, philosophers, artists, musicians, scholars, linguists, medical people and....yes...even scientists were to be found. Also, the monastries were great centres of trade and organised industry, with almost total control over export trade and international finance: the RC church being the original "EU" and the first international banking institution.

The church was also the foundation of health-care and education, and if a bright boy was chosen to be a chorister in a cathedral, they would be superbly educated free of charge, and perhaps enter the highest levels of society.

For the majority, religion was something which gave them order and purpose, mixed with fear, respect for their superiors and, of course, a sense of hope. It was, in conjunction with various monarchs, an essentially theocratic style of government.

It worked well enough until the Black Death decimated Europe, and faith was seen to fail the people and bring famine; coupled to very long and very cold winters over a long period.

After that, the power of the church subsided, and Europe became more fragmented, until the various individual rulers defied the power of the Vatican.

However, almost ALL the foundations of modern life were set down by the church of the middle-ages, and following the reformation, much of that essential genius was transferred to the secular world and the democratic world of modern politics.

Many of the church foundations still exist today, long after the dissolution of the monastries and the reformation, but they no longer have the power they once had.

Answer 3

Assuming your are talking about the European Middle Ages (approx. AD. 500-1550), religion was important because the dominate religion became Christianity. Christianity was different from what had come before in part because it was monotheistic, but more importantly because the *kind* of single God, it posited.

The Christian God was a rational, Creator God. That is to say, Christians saw a God who had not only created the world, but created rules to run AND who operated by his own rules. Because of this understanding of God, over the course of the Middle Ages, the Scholastics came to the conclusion the world ran by set rules and that these rules were discoverable, understandable and testable. This testable part is important. Theories were testable because God didn't capriciously change the rules (like, Zeus, who threw thunder when he was angry, and who can fathom when a god like that will be angry?). This understanding the the world was rational and knowable allowed the rise of science in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Without the basis that the medieval scholastics established, true science would not have been possible

Answer 4

Religion was important in the middle ages because the people of the time were unaware of the wider picture... If someone said they could perform magic they were seen as powerful, if someone said there was a god in the woods, because they didn't know better they believed...when the Church said there was but one God...they believed, the intelligence level was basic... Today the 'Civilised World' knows there is a bigger picture, we ask more questions, we are more sceptical, know one knows for sure if there is life after death, we can surmise that there is a God, or that we were formed by the Big bang... unfortunately, and this isnt a slur on other nations, but the people of certain countries and religions seem to be from the middle ages in so far as they don't question, A voice speaks out and like lemmings they follow..it is partly why there are so many wars, so much hatred so little tolerance ...

Answer 5

The people, pagans included believed in a God or god. When the Enlightenment arrived in 17th.ct. Science. emancipation, etc threw out the so-called power of the Church. People began to question things, and gradually Atheism crept in. Religion was important in the middle ages because there was only one faith, and it was the one that had been traditionally passed down since the time of Christ. As people could not read or write, stained glass windows were a means of telling the biblical stories. No other reason.

Answer 6

"Religion keeps the poor from murdering the rich" -Napoleon Bonaparte-

Most ppl want to believe in life after death. Religion offers guidance in this regard.

Religion took on more importance in the Middle Ages because it offered explanations for many things not readily understood.
For example, insanity was devil possession or witchery.

The wealthy or even anyone with money, could buy their way closer to heaven by paying for indulgences or religious articles from the Catholic Church.

Answer 7

I beleive Religion or a belief in God is and are important in all the ages.

Answer 8

read "how the Irish saved Civilization" by Thomas Cahill. Not all religion is about perpetuating ignorance.

Answer 9

A lot of what went on the world wasn't properly understood so religion provided a source of understanding and comfort to people in those unenlightened times.

Answer 10

well in those days before christian rock bands, and lying tv preachers, they still had showbusiness sewn up. The pretty glass windows and big ceilings were a great way to spend peoples money who were afraid of burning in hell. Also if you didnt comply with religious clap trap they would often send you to hell anyway by burning you at the stake etc....another showbizz first!