In recent years the Inquisition has been subject to greater investigation. In preparation for the Jubilee in 2000, Pope John Paul II wanted to find out just what happened during the time of the Inquisition's (the institution's) existence. In 1998 the Vatican opened the archives of the Holy Office (the modern successor to the Inquisition) to a team of 30 scholars from around the world. Now at last the scholars have made their report, an 800-page tome that was unveiled at a press conference in Rome on Tuesday. Its most startling conclusion is that the Inquisition was not so bad after all. Torture was rare and only about 1 percent of those brought before the Spanish Inquisition were actually executed. As one headline read "Vatican Downsizes Inquisition."
The amazed gasps and cynical sneers that have greeted this report are just further evidence of the lamentable gulf that exists between professional historians and the general public.
2007-01-29 01:37:48 · 12 answers · asked by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The truth is that, although this report makes use of previously unavailable material, it merely echoes what numerous scholars have previously learned from other European archives. Among the best recent books on the subject are Edward Peters's Inquisition (1988) and Henry Kamen's The Spanish Inquisition (1997), but there are others. Simply put, historians have long known that the popular view of the Inquisition is a myth. So what is the truth?
2007-01-29 01:38:11 · update #1
I think it went out of hand, yes, but I don't think it was the bloodbath that everyone thinks it was. What people don't know is that the Spanish Inquisition (one of four Inquisitions in history) was NOT started by the authority of the Catholic church. IT was started by the king and queen of Spain for their own purposes. When the Vatican got wind of what was going on and the abuse of power, they pulled the plug.
As with anything, rumors flew and with each retelling, the damage worsened. Over the years, the worst was believed. I think it is good to investigate and get the truth out, but I doubt that unless it's juicy, no one will believe it. After all, who want's teh Catholic church to be innocent of the Inquisition when they can be hated for their past?
2007-01-29 01:49:32 · answer #1 · answered by sister steph 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The point that the inquisition was so bad was not that he numbers did all the talking (as in the Holocaust) but that this was done by religious people. Yes, I know everything is aobut religion, greed, and money. But this was done by the people who were here to protect. One person tortured is one too many. True, it has been blown up to sound horrible, when in fact it was a much smaller scale. However, the people trust a respect was diminished on a far greater scale than that of other "wars"/"genocides"
2007-01-29 09:45:47 · answer #2 · answered by puggylover 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
the Church herself never condoned, let alone ordered, these excesses. And as for the Inquisition, if it was as bad as some anti-Catholics claim, it is odd that there are records of people requesting transfers of their cases to the Inquisition from the secular Spanish courts. No doubt, some horrid things occurred, but it is more accurately understood as the unfortunate result of the weaknesses and sin of individuals, not the official teaching of the Church
2007-01-29 09:53:31 · answer #3 · answered by Gods child 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Lately 'the truth' is what the media pounds repeatedly into the masses heads and tells them what to believe.
It used to be based on various texts from various sources and if you are the type that would believe the media over scholars then you really have no idea what Truth really is.. and it is out there but rarely on TV shows.
2007-01-29 09:49:05 · answer #4 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
David Irving was jailed for daring to say that "the Holocaust" was not so bad as some say. That 6 million Jews were not gassed. There is someone out there that violently denies any aspect of the truth. I take with a serious grain of salt the Vaticans version of the story.
2007-01-29 09:45:07 · answer #5 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Interesting. However, any time some one or entity abuses power in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus, it is beyond terrible. One death, one torture is one too many. Not so bad? They blasphemed my God. They gave Christians a black eye through centuries. Their evil was very bad and very long lasting - no matter what the Pope would have us believe.
2007-01-29 09:51:58 · answer #6 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Isn't one person being tortured or executed for their religion bad enough?
Sorry, even if it didn't happen that often, that doesn't make it any less of a monster. I mean, people were tortured, TORTURED, because of religion. I just can't make light of that fact.
2007-01-29 09:48:19 · answer #7 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The inquisition was very, very bad. The fact that the Catholic Church has downplayed it is typical of their holier than thou, cover up the bad stuff, mentality. It would be like them telling the complete truth about their pervert priests.
2007-01-29 09:42:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 3⤋
Carl Sagan provides a good overview in part of 'the demon haunted planet'
Also read Miller's 'The Crucible'
Yes, it was really bad!
2007-01-29 09:43:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Some people just won't believe anything.
2007-01-29 09:46:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋