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To: curiosity
Now I'd like to see some documentation of this, because I've read quite a bit about the inquisition and have never seen this incident mentioend. But even if it is true, it's just one incident in hundreds of years, hardly representative of the institution.

That was only the begining ...

"Much has been written of the inhuman cruelty of Torquemada. Llorente computes that during Torquemada's office (1483-98) 8800 suffered death by fire and 96,54 (sic) were punished in other ways (Histoire de l'Inquisition, IV, 252). These figures are highly exaggerated, as has been conclusively proved by Hefele (Cardinal Ximenes, ch. xviii), Gams (Kirchengeschichte von Spanien, III, II, 68-76), and many others. Even the Jewish historian Graetz contents himself with stating that "under the first Inquisitor Torquemada, in the course of fourteen years (1485-1498) at least 2000 Jews were burnt as impenitent sinners" ("History of the Jews", Philadelphia, 1897, IV, 356). Most historians hold with the Protestant Peschel (Das Zeitalter der Entdeckungen, Stuttgart, 1877, pp. 119 sq.) that the number of persons burnt from 1481 to 1504, when Isabella died, was about 2000...." - New Advent (Roman) Catholic Encyclopedia, Fray Tomás Torquemada - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14783a.htm

"And on the Medieval Inquisition page, the same New Advent (Roman) Catholic Encyclopedia told us that the "most active period of the institution" was when 5 of 24 'convicted' during a 7 year period, and 42 of 930 'convicted' during a 16 year period, were burned in the early 14th century. But here we have, by the most conservative (Roman Catholic) estimates, "about 2000" executed over a period of 25 years. That is a best case scenario average of 80 each year, or 1 every 4.5 days - for 25 years! And, since these numbers only take into account those for which records exist, it's likely that the true numbers are higher. David A. Plaisted makes a compelling argument that the true numbers exceed 50 million. And these are the doings of those who claim that they are the descendants of the apostles, and the infallible vicars of Christ." - http://jmgainor.homestead.com/files/PU/Inq/si.htm

507 posted on 05/12/2006 10:55:55 PM PDT by SubGeniusX
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To: SubGeniusX

Wow .. I can hardly believe I get to use Plastaid against them ... THIS IS GREAT ...

www.cs.unc.edu/~plaisted/estimates.doc

I don't know weather to feel good or kinda icky ...


509 posted on 05/12/2006 11:02:40 PM PDT by SubGeniusX
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To: SubGeniusX
Your first quote merely confirms that the Spanish Inquisition targeted Jews who falsely converted to Catholicism. I never denied that.

Your second quote confirms that the medieval inquisition killed a lot of people. I never denied this nor do I defend it. It DOES NOT, however, support your contention that the institution systematically persecuted Jews. The most you have come up with is ONE alleged instance in 1288 in which a dozen or so Jews were burned at the stake. If true, this instance was tragic and indefensible, but it does support your contention that Church authorities sanctioned mass murder of Jews. It is only one incident for an institution with a 2000 year history, and is therefore hardly representative, even if true.

675 posted on 05/13/2006 11:27:21 AM PDT by curiosity
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