The New Inquisition: Spanish Inquisition does not live up to reputation of injustice

Cornell Review ^ | 1/31/02 | G. Quentin Mull

[Aquinasfan]

I've heard analyses like this before and I have no trouble believing that the legends grown up around the Inquisition are very probably inaccurate and overblown. Were some atrocities committed? Probably. Was it as bad as we learned in gradeschool? Probably not.

Many people blame religion for sponsoring atrocites throughout history. Rubbish. Men commit such things. Anti religious zealots of communism killed more people in worse ways than any "inquisition" or "crusade" could ever have dreamed.

Good commonsense analysis, which is unfortunately rare these days.

[annalex]

The point here is that credible research shows that the Inquisition was painted all black in the past, not that it needs to be whitewashed.

[HarleyD]

Credible research??? Really???

I would refer you to my Encyclopedia article which specifically reference the Papal Bulls that ordered the torturing and killing of heretics. I haven't had the time to research these but the references are their for verification purposes. I don't see these mentioned.

My point is that history has probably painted the Inquisition precisely as it existed and there is a clear paper trail to Papal decisions. So what? There was a lot of other equally bad things going on as well with all sorts of groups. I'm not trying to put the Catholic Church in a bad light (not on this anyway) but I think the evidence is clear that the Inquisition (at least by today's standards) was a very bad thing.

[annalex]

By today's standards, perhaps, but by contemporary standards it was light to the world.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I'll chirp for you. As one raised Protestant, who does not really hold strong religious beliefs as an adult, I'd happy to chime in. It does not surprise me at all that Catholic persecution has been exaggerated. That does not mean there were not abuses. People are people, and will do wrong at times. But what is most important of all is that the historic perspective is cast aside when considering such events hundreds of years ago, it seems, unless one speaks of Muslims at the same time.

The fact is, that Catholics, by official decree or otherwise, killed Protestants and Jews and Protestants did the same on the other side. It was a pretty rough time in those days, and PC ideas hadn't exactly caught on.

Now, I believe the Catholic Church, as the biggest Christian group overall, are attacked by the left in the same way they go after GM. It's the biggest target. The church is bigger, with a more rigid hierarchy than its more decentralized Protestant brothers, which can be turned left more piecemeal.

While I think the Reformation was absolutely necessary, and the Catholic Church rife with corruption in those days, I defend Catholicism today at every turn, save egregious transgressions such as priestly molestation (Yes, I know Protestant minsters are guilty too).

It is absolute insanity for Protestants and Catholics, or Orthodox adherents for that matter, to be bickering right now- particularly about the past. Locking hands and defending the push of radical Islam should be the focus of Christians everywhere.

[big'ol_freeper]

Ping