Was the Inquisition a Myth?

Question

I have heard Roman Catholics say this, is it true its just a Myth?

Roman Catholic Claims:
http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Dossier/1112-96/article4.html

Answer 1

I've never heard one Roman Catholic say this.
Do you have any links that show a Roman Catholic saying this?

Answer 2

The inquisitions are very true.
The inquisitions were judicial institutions or tribunals that were established by the Roman Catholic Church in order to seek out, try, and sentence people that the Roman Catholic Church believed to be guilty of heresy. The purpose of the inquisitions was to secure and maintain religious and doctorial unity in the Roman Catholic Church and throughout the Roman Empire, through either the conversion or persecution of alleged heretics. Historians generally categorize or distinguish the inquisitions based on four different time frames and areas that they took place in. These are: The Medieval or Episcopal Inquisition, The Spanish Inquisition, The Portuguese Inquisition, and the Roman Inquisition.

Answer 3

When there are no Apostles/Prophets to dispense the gospel, there is confusion, and so we had the dark ages. The heavens withdrew and so the people were left to fend for themselves and we have a continuing proliferartion of churches. Paul warned that grevious wolves would enter into the flock (acts 20:29) and that the day of Christ would not come until there was a falling away first (2nd Thes. 2:3). The Lord ushered in the "Last Dispensation of the Gospel" through Joseph Smith, so we again have Apostles and Prophets. Over one million missionaries have been sent out to declare the good word.

Answer 4

No, the Inquisition was simply the Church Court, set up to try cases involving matters of the church.
The Spanish Inquisition gained notoriety because it was used by the Spanish Crown for political ends. In 1492, under Ferdinand and Ysabella, Jews were expelled from Spain, and with them anyone considered to be a heritic. This included Muslims, Roma {"Gypsies"} and a number of lesser-known Christian lay orders. Some were converted at sword-point, no doubt, but many voluntarily converted or repented. Herein lies a problem. If a person who converted or repented and signed a confession continued to practise their former culture or faith, they were in danger of being accused of heresy. In that sense, the Inquisition could justly excommunicate such a person as they had perjured themselves. Unfortunately, that person could be "turnstyled" into the civil court and having essentially no rights, being excommunicate, could be condemned on any number of charges. The Inquisition itself could not impose the death penalty except in the most extreme of cases, but in those instances where royalty was able to compromise the church and insinuate one of their family into important church offices, abuses occurred.
Yes, a myth has grown up around the Spanish Inquisition greatly exaggerating the abuses that did in fact take place. While Ferdinand and Ysabella certainly had a part in it [even Macciavelli refers to them as "bestial" and some historians equate them with Stalin and Hitler], it appears that Ysabella became aware of the enormity of what had taken place, and renouncing her lavish lifestyle became more and more personally austere toward the end of her life. There will no doubt be more developments in this particular story, as some investigation has taken place in the Roman catholic Church to elevate Ysabella to sainthood.

Answer 5

Both Inquisitions were not a myth. The Spanish and Dutch. Catholics don't believe it's a myth but in magazines like CRISIS, the numbers victims are bugus

Answer 6

Today for religion, there are more people killed or suffering in days than in the century of the Spanish Inquisition. It's easy to spread false Information to get ones point across...just look at today's election and see how facts are distorted.

Answer 7

I do not know what Roman catholic would say that to you but who ever it was they were lying to you, I am a Roman catholic and I know the Inquisition was true, and also between Christianity and Islam they literally slaughtered thousands of Innocent people like cattle, ya you bet it happened, and don't think for one moment that it couldn't happen again because it's about to, Islam and Christianity are slaughter house religious enemies that will do anything to get and maintain their power to control.

Answer 8

There are a lot of misunderstandings about the Inquisition, so maybe the Catholics you were talking to were referring to some specific claim as a myth, but the Inquisition was most definitely real.

Answer 9

Hardly. Search the internet for info on the Spanish Inquisition. You may be surprised at what you find!
Please don't take this the wrong way, but people who call the Burning Times a myth are gravely belittling the senseless violence & torture those innocent victims endured! Shame on them!

Answer 10

Which inquisition? Most likely, those you were speaking to were saying that one or two facts regading the inquisition was/were a myth (myths).

There were protestant and catholic inquisitions. Heck, the protestants in Switzerland once executed a rooster for being a cockatrice, therefore a party to witchcraft, during their inquisition.