Tapsearch Com EditorAlbigensian Manichaeism
June 12th 2009 18:21
By Ray Tapajna - This follows our post on Mohammedianism- based on notes from course by Father McQuade SJ JCU
The Albigensian and Manichaeism Heresies
The attacks of Mohammedanism from without had brought great human suffering with it. It was also an age of fierce ravages of the Northern Pirates and an era of political, social and economic chaos. This all resulted into a keen consciousness of evil and a vivid awareness of suffering making many wondering about what it was all about.
New heresies surfaces trying to explain human suffering related to evil in a process of over simplification.
Manichaeism was an attempt to solve the problem of evil. A dualism was pronounced in a conclusion that there must be two priniciples of causes of all things: It was as if there were two themes of music running through the music of the universe- a theme of symphony or goodness, and the theme fo cacophony or badness. From this it concluded that there must be two principle or causes of all things: the principle of good and the priniciple of evil. These two principle contended for the mastery of the universe, one being now triumphant, then, again the other. It was an oversimplication of reality. Life on earth was punishment and the only hell that exists. However, suffering is only temporary because all souls will eventually be saved. Christ was merely a created being, who never took on a human body and never actually died on the cross. In either case, He would have come under the control of the evil principle. His redemption gave us only the example of a noble life and a moral lesson virtue. It has nothing to do with the remission of sin. The followers of this heresy rejected the authority of Church and State and searched out Scripture for answers - mostly the New Testament because the Old Testament was regarded as demoniac creation.
Just imagine how many things were divided into an uncontrolled fashion. People like simple explanations and not mysteries. The preaching of these doctrines involved revolution from the established order. The nobles, especially the minor nobles, who were the small town Hitlers of the tenth century, stood to gain by revolutions like this. Political and economic motivations fostered the divisions. Most heresies tend to divide and divide until they seemingly disappear.
All the sacraments were abandoned. In their place a strange ritual was adopted mixed with fire worship called The Consolation where the soul was professed to be purified. Marriage was condemned and the procreation of children was demoniac. The desertion of husband and wife was called praiseworthy. Wine was evil. Meat was evil. War was absolutely wrong, so was captial punishment. The one unforgiveabal sin was reconciliation with the Catholic Church. Most heresies make this their main goal.
The situation invited political complications. Wars followed. Near the little town of Muret a remarkable battle decided the political issue. Simon de Montfort with a force of 1000 knights met the Spanish king, Peter of Aragon and his force of 100,000 and utterly defeated them. That was on September 13, 1213. St. Dominic, who said mass for Simon de Montfort's followers the morning of their battle, was largely responsible for winding up the theological aspects of the struggle. He and his Order of Preachers reconverted the masses in Southern France and the glory of the high middle ages covered the remains of the Albigensian heresy.
These heresies have left many stains. The stain is part of many happenings in our times.
The Albigensian and Manichaeism Heresies
The attacks of Mohammedanism from without had brought great human suffering with it. It was also an age of fierce ravages of the Northern Pirates and an era of political, social and economic chaos. This all resulted into a keen consciousness of evil and a vivid awareness of suffering making many wondering about what it was all about.
New heresies surfaces trying to explain human suffering related to evil in a process of over simplification.
Manichaeism was an attempt to solve the problem of evil. A dualism was pronounced in a conclusion that there must be two priniciples of causes of all things: It was as if there were two themes of music running through the music of the universe- a theme of symphony or goodness, and the theme fo cacophony or badness. From this it concluded that there must be two principle or causes of all things: the principle of good and the priniciple of evil. These two principle contended for the mastery of the universe, one being now triumphant, then, again the other. It was an oversimplication of reality. Life on earth was punishment and the only hell that exists. However, suffering is only temporary because all souls will eventually be saved. Christ was merely a created being, who never took on a human body and never actually died on the cross. In either case, He would have come under the control of the evil principle. His redemption gave us only the example of a noble life and a moral lesson virtue. It has nothing to do with the remission of sin. The followers of this heresy rejected the authority of Church and State and searched out Scripture for answers - mostly the New Testament because the Old Testament was regarded as demoniac creation.
Just imagine how many things were divided into an uncontrolled fashion. People like simple explanations and not mysteries. The preaching of these doctrines involved revolution from the established order. The nobles, especially the minor nobles, who were the small town Hitlers of the tenth century, stood to gain by revolutions like this. Political and economic motivations fostered the divisions. Most heresies tend to divide and divide until they seemingly disappear.
All the sacraments were abandoned. In their place a strange ritual was adopted mixed with fire worship called The Consolation where the soul was professed to be purified. Marriage was condemned and the procreation of children was demoniac. The desertion of husband and wife was called praiseworthy. Wine was evil. Meat was evil. War was absolutely wrong, so was captial punishment. The one unforgiveabal sin was reconciliation with the Catholic Church. Most heresies make this their main goal.
The situation invited political complications. Wars followed. Near the little town of Muret a remarkable battle decided the political issue. Simon de Montfort with a force of 1000 knights met the Spanish king, Peter of Aragon and his force of 100,000 and utterly defeated them. That was on September 13, 1213. St. Dominic, who said mass for Simon de Montfort's followers the morning of their battle, was largely responsible for winding up the theological aspects of the struggle. He and his Order of Preachers reconverted the masses in Southern France and the glory of the high middle ages covered the remains of the Albigensian heresy.
These heresies have left many stains. The stain is part of many happenings in our times.
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