I simply am stating that the sequence of events are not what the popular press and Hollywood films portray.
Certainly Jews and others were tortured and killed. But the history leading to the Inquisition and the underlying events are omitted
The context of historical events are important.
Indeed.
The Inquisition came about for a very good reason. Nonconformity to the state religion was a crime. Heresy then was actually illegal, and had been so since Roman (pagan) times.
Now the problem in Christendom was that this could very easily be abused. Say I was a lord and I wanted to despoil your family of land. Well, I could just accuse you of heresy, get you talking about the Trinity in front of a panel, and it’s certain that SOMETHING you said would be heretical or could be twisted to sound so. It was just way too open for abuse....and moreover, why should any secular authority have the power to decide what was heretical or not?
So the Inquisition was born. Impartial Church authorities took over the process of investigation from the State, and they decided whether the person was guilty of obstinate heresy or not. If not, then they were freed. If so, then the accused were turned back over to the State for punishment.
It’s well to keep in mind that just because *Christians* did something, doesn’t mean *Christianity* did it.