Dissent and Renewal

Dissent and Renewal: ‘Heresy’ and the Rise of the Mendicants

The religious movements of the Middle Ages
New fervor for religion. People were no longer happy at going to God via the church, the priest, they also wanted there own way. Some went in a quite orthodox direction others joined heretical cults.
Feeling that heretics are a constant danger/threat/presence due to Paul’s writing. If you see in the medieval text, there’s reference to Paul and Titus, and to the Songs of Solomon to the little foxes. Even if heretics were not actually an issue people were sure they were around. Exegetes assume from a very early age that there are heretics around trying to lead people astray. Augustine writing against the likes of the Donatists. Pelagians etc. did nothing but to fuel these ideas.
Theological basis for dealing with heretics was laid out by Augustine in his conflict with the Donatists.
1. Persuasion and isolation but they grew power
2. The use of force as a form of harsh love
Pricillian of Avila was burnt as the first heretic.
A group of duelist heretics were sent to the stake but they were more lynched than it was a state execution. They were burnt in a cottage rather than at a proper execution.
Why burn them?? Distant echo of roman practice to burn sorcerers. However most heretics weren’t actually killed, they were sent on pilgrimage, silenced etc.
These first heretics in the 11th century are generally mentioned in passing, in chronicles so not entirely sure what they were saying.
What constituted a heretic in the middle aged theologians.
Theology or distinctions were clarified in the 13th century from then on it was clear... someone within the church, relying on scripture but with a different interpretation.
Characteristics of a heretic
1. Pride - sets themselves in opposition to the church
2. Hypocrisy - piety not authentic but there to deceive others
3. Secrecy
4. Unlettered - inability to interpret the scriptures properly - this brings on some strange passages of orthodox theologians.
There were some incidents in the early medieval ages and when suspicions evolved the church reacted mildly, they didn’t really feel threatened. So despite applying ancient names, the early middle ages erased the heresies of the old church. There were no real heretics around.
IN the 11th century things were dramatically different, ecceleastiscal enthusiasm evoked all kind of wacked out living. Several reasons:
1. Anti clericalism, especially stimulated by gregorian reform.
Perfectly orthodox beginning - encouraged to live like the new testament but when people did some went OTT and were labelled heretics.
2. Economic boom, accompanied by the expansion of trade and opening up to ideas outside western europe. PLUS growing number of literate layman, particularly among merchants. Additionally there was also a quest for property so many went in other development.
The quest for the apostolic life
1. promotion of monastic lifestyle.
2. apocalyptic ideas about the end of the world