Core belief of the Cathars:The idea of two Gods or principles, one being good the other evil, was central to Cathar beliefs. The good God was the God of the New Testament and the creator of the spiritual realm as opposed to the bad God who many Cathars identified as Satan creator of the physical world of the Old Testament. All visible matter was created by Satan, it was therefore tainted with sin, this even included the human body. Human souls were thought to be the genderless souls of Angels trapped within the physical creation of Satan cursed to be reincarnated until the Cathar faithful achieved salvation through a ritual called the Consolamentum.[5]
I don't think any current protestant church would agree with these beliefs.
Who were the real “heretics” since Christ never authorized Bible burning or suppression of so-called heresies by means of the sword.
I think we need to be very careful when we judge the actions of groups or individuals in the past based on mores of our time.
The Catholic Church has maintained that we hold the fullness of faith and that inherent in that is a duty to protect others from falling into heresy.
Further the Catholic Church has also always viewed itself as the "Body of Christ" and Christ did instruct His followers to take up the sword to defend themselves: Lukle 22:35 He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied.
36 He said to them,* “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.
37 For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, ‘He was counted among the wicked’; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.”
38 Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!”*
At the time these heresies were viewed as direct assaults on the Church, the Body of Christ.
And thus would have the right to kill those holding such beliefs?
It's mot matter of judging actions of long ago by today's standards. Stephen was murdered for his beliefs stated before the Sanhedrin. They too might argue they had a duty to stop this heresy but then as now these men were murderers and those who, like Saul, approved were just as guilty.
“Further the Catholic Church has also always viewed itself as the “Body of Christ” and Christ did instruct His followers to take up the sword to defend themselves”
Not so. When the disciples showed up with two swords Jesus said “that's enough”, and rebuked Peter for using a sword on the High Priests’ slave since Jesus could call on legions of angels for protection.
Where were swords defending James or Stephen, Peter, Paul?
“The Catholic Church has maintained that we hold the fullness of faith and that inherent in that is a duty to protect others from falling into heresy.”
The Pharisees had the same view and were willing to murder anyone who disagreed, even the resurrected Lazarus, lest the Romans come and take away their positions and nation.
verga: I think we need to be very careful when we judge the actions of groups or individuals in the past based on mores of our time.
The Catholic Church has maintained that we hold the fullness of faith and that inherent in that is a duty to protect others from falling into heresy.
Further the Catholic Church has also always viewed itself as the "Body of Christ" and Christ did instruct His followers to take up the sword to defend themselves: Lukle 22:35 He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied.
36 He said to them,* “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.
37 For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, ‘He was counted among the wicked’; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.”
38 Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!”*
At the time these heresies were viewed as direct assaults on the Church, the Body of Christ.
Well, you have to read it to believe it. Catholics STILL defending and excusing the use of the sword, (IOW, murder and torture and imprisonment aka - the INquistion) against those who the Catholic church considers heretics, guilty of the *crime* of heresy against the church.
In other words, unsaved people were indwelt with demons...Is that so far fetched??? No doubt the Catholic religion has distorted and embellished it's history of the Cathars and other denominations who opposed the Catholic religion which the Cathars did vehemently...
It was the most significant ceremony in Cathar theology, marking the transition from ordinary believer (auditore or credente) to a Parfait, one of the elect. During the ceremony the Holy Spirit was believed to descend from heaven, and inhabit the Parfait's corporal body. It was largely because of this indwelling of the Holy Spirit that Parfaits were expected and willing to lead such ascetic lives, and why ordinary believers were prepared to "adore" them.
The ceremony was striking in its simplicity. It required no material elements such as water or anointing oil, and seems to have preserved a ceremony of the very earliest Christian Church. Cathars claimed that the the rite had been appointed by Christ, and had been handed down from generation to generation by the boni homines. For Catholics of the time, the rite was rather a mystery and their best explanation was that the Cathar rite was a distorted imitation of various Catholic rituals.
There were numerous Christian groups thru out church history who practices were far closer to the scriptures than anything Catholic...They all had one thing in common...They refused to bow down to the Catholic religion and it's popes...Thus; they were branded as heretics by the Catholic religion...Their bibles were burned and they and their families were tortured and murdered if they refused to 'convert'...
These and other 'heretics' are the REAL Christians of church history...