Perspectives on Christianity: A Catholic Approach

THE 1000C: Perspectives on Christianity: A Catholic Approach

Barbaric invasion

Monastic influenceIrish Monasticism Palladius and Patrick in 5th century converts many Irish.A network of monasteries was developed in lieu of an episcopal church. Irish monasteries were local political units that served a local kingdom.Immensely personal spirituality, created penitential (private confession), date of Easter was different.590 Columbanus and the Irish missionaries go to Gaul Roman MonasticismBenedict designs the structure of European monasticism with The Rule. Well functioning and organized communities of prayers and work. Monasteries developed in marginal lands and made them productive economic systems. This Monasticism grew and missionaries like Augustine would take the rule throughout Britain and Europe.Synod of Whitby 664 AD King Oswiu of Northumbria supported the holder of the keys.

Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)In the tradition of Leo he governed Rome, tradition of St. Peters patrimony. Organized health and sanitation, defense, social justice/distribution, and trade. Promoted Germanic conversionConverted the Arian Goths in SpainSent Augustine on missions to BritonTheological development of Augustinian concept of salvation, purgatory and penance (pushing aside ideas of predestination and irresistible grace)

Gregory the Great

When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice.

St. Boniface (680-754)716 Mission to Frisia and Germania, used germanic superstition to convert the masses (legend of cutting down Donar Oak)732 made archbishop of Germania where he had to create an ecclesial structure.Throughout this time he consolidated the relationship between the Papacy and the Carolingian (the Franks)754 martyred trying to convert the Frisians

The General missionary policy of Gregory, and later Boniface, may be summarized as that which cannot be supplanted by preaching or coercion, may be accommodated. David Keep

ConversionTo advance the process of Christianization among the Germanic peoples it adopted the religiopolitical and magicoreligious elements of Germanic religiosity. Christianity was adapted to germanic political and military ideals (blood feuds) in order to facilitate the alliance of the Frankish political and military unitA comprehensive program of post baptismal religious education never materialized, thus Christianity remained a superficial and superstitious religion.

Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance Byzantines and Lombards threaten Rome and Muslims are threatening Europe. Looking for a military protector the Papacy looks to their Frankish allies and the Carolingian house. 800 AD, Charlemagne is crowned by Pope Leo IIIHe revived education and schools with the contribution of Alcuin of York and scholars flocked to his domain.

Second wave of invasionsNorthern wave - The Vikings/Norseman (793, 911)

Eastern wave The Magyars (896, 955)

Southern wave The Muslim (711, 754)

In the East, Iconoclasm

In response to Islamic cultural issues with the use of images Byzantines started a campaign to also eliminate the use of icons.It was a class issue with lower class, eastern Byzantines supporting iconoclasm and wealthy aristocratic Byzantines condemning it.730, Emperor Leo III began the iconoclasm campaign of smashing images. Pope Gregory III condemned iconoclasm787, Council of Nicaea II (the last ecumenical council between east and west) condemned iconoclasm.In the West, Investiture

Who had higher power and influence in western Europe, Specifically, who had the right of investing authority on bishops: Pope or Holy Roman Emperor?From the time after Charlemagne until 1122 this issue depended on who had a stronger personality.In 1075 Pope Gregory claimed this authority against Emperor Henry IV and excommunicated him. 1077 Henry IV found himself with no power and went to Canossa for forgiveness. Emperor and Pope continued to fight until the Concordat of Worms in 1122.Religious Controversy1054: Official split between Eastern and Western Church

Renewal and Reform

Clunaic Reform909 Monastery of Cluny founded to reform monasticism with a reapplication of The Rule along poverty, celibacy and obedience. Subject to the Papacy alone.Eleventh century ecclesiastical reformation to strengthen the church with monastic discipline.1049 Monks Bruno, Humbert and Hildebrand go to Rome to reform the Papacy.Hildebrand is Pope Gregory VII from 1073-1085.

War and PeaceFeudal society is in a state of constant warfare between local lords.Peace of God Synod of 989 Christian Knights who attacked or robbed clergy or serfs were to be excommunicatedSynod of 1033 Children and women were specifically protected. Truce of God Council of 1027 banning warfare on certain holy days.

Reconquista, Crusades and Military Monks1085 Toledo falls to the Christian armies of Alfonso VI. 1095 Pope Urban II gets a plea for Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus for help against the Muslims, Pope preaches for the Crusade at Claremont1099 Crusaders take over Jerusalem and establish the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. El Cid dies defending Valencia. 1119 Pius Knights create a monastic order to protect and serve pilgrims. Knights Templars and later the Hospitallers are born1147 - Second Crusade go out with Emperor Conrad III of the Holy Roman Empire and Louis VII of France. Liberation of Lisbon

Aftermath of the Crusades1187-1291 The Crusading campaign failed1212-1492 The Reconquista campaign succeededRESULTS:Byzantine empire was weakened especially when the fourth crusade conquered Constantinople (1204-1261)Economic trade would bring about prosperity.Military orders eventually ended but they left a major financial banking networkPhilosophical and scholastic contribution from the Muslim and Jewish communityThe Black Death

The High Middle Ages (1000-1300)Trade and economic growth, gave rise to the bourgeoisie, merchant classThis emerging class would call for a centralized government to regulate the Barons/LordsCities and urban areas would grow.Education was further promoted.

ConvivenciaIn Spain, the generally peaceful intermingling of the three religions saw the trade of ideas between Muslim, Jewish and Christian scholars. This brought Aristotelian philosophy back into Europe especially with the work of the Muslim scholar Averroes which was translated into Latin.Aristotelian philosophy would promote natural law thinking and observable reasoning.

UniversitiesTwelve and thirteenth Century saw the development of Universities from the Monastic and Cathedral Schools of the earlier period. (Paris, Bologna and Oxford)Cities had a love hate relationship with the students (Love the money, hate the students)Scholars guild were formed using appeal to higher authority and strikes to get what the wanted from the city.

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)Used reason to help develop articles of faith.Cur deus homo: Book on explaining God and salvation through Christ using reasonPeter Abelard (1079-1142)Developed Scholastic theology with the book, Sic et Non. Early user of Aristotelian logic.Peter Lombard (1096-1164)Wrote the Sentences which was a systematic treatment of theology. Scholasticism

Mendicants and HereticsMerchant and Ecclesial wealth challenged Christians on the issue of poverty and simplicityHeretical movements sprang up challenging the Church. The Cathars and the WaldensiansThe Menidcant orders reformed the church along these lines.Franciscans: Francis of Assisi, promoting a spirituality of poverty and ministry to the poor.Domincans: Dominic de Guzman, promoting a spirituality on poverty and the pursuit of truth in order to combat heresy.Popes Innocent III and Gregory IX combats heresy and affirms the mendicant movement:1215: The Fourth Lateran Council1230s: The Papal Inquisition

Thomas AquinasDominican Friar, 1225-1274Influenced by Aristotelian/empirical philosophy, All our rational knowledge in this world is acquired through sensory experience on which our minds then reflectThe Soul is known by its actsSynthesizes theology in his two scolastic works:Summa Contra GentilesSumma Theologica

1348 1349: The Black Death1337-1453: The Hundred Year WarThe Late Middle Ages: Plague and War

1453: The Fall of Constantinople

Papal controversies Boniface VIIITried to assert Papal supremacy in 1302 with Unum Sanctum, He is instead humiliated by the forces of King Philip IVClement V1312 Suppression of the Templars 1309-1377 - Avignon Papacy, Second Babylonian Captivity1378-1423 The great Western Schism.The Conciliar Movement.1414-1418, Council of Constance1431-1449, Council of Basel1438-1445, Council of Ferrera Florence

Renaissance Development of Nominalism and Humanism:Duns Scotus, (1266-1308) Not trusting in theological reasoning he suggest that reason cannot prove what is outside of our experience.William of Ockham (1285-1347). Following on Scotus work Ockham develops empirical method of observation and experience. Begins developing the concept of subjective (human) rights.Fall of Constantinople and the invention of the printing press (1440) brought classical Greek Literature to peoples homes. This in turn brought a revival of antiquity, literary awakening, and interest in the arts.Popes would embrace this as an expression of their redefined post-conciliar power. They would embellish the city of Rome

John Wycliffe (1328-1384) questioned the temporal authority of the Popes and believed in limiting civil and ecclesial power, embraced predestination and focus on scripture. Rejected transubstantiation.John Huss (1371-1415) Questioned the legitimacy of a corrupt Pope and attacked the sale of indulgences since only God can forgive. Burned at the stake on July 6 1415.Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) Dominican Friar who promoted the social cause for the poor and republic governance. Mysticism and Popular religious movements Grow

Pre-Reformation

1492