A Study On The Origin And Operation Of Inquisition

A special time of Church development in western Europe is from 13 th century to 15 th century.During this period,with the development of the economy,the change of the times,made the heretical thoughts and religious fanaticism spread throughout western European society,promoted the status of the Church.At that time,due to the heresy of the vigorous development,the Pope felt a threat.So the question of heresy become an important goal of the Church.In order to maintain its authority,the Church changed its attitude and manner in dealing with heresy.Facing the vigorous development of Heresy Movement,the Church's attitude changed from tolerance to repression.The way to deal with heresy was changed,from a single way to a combination of multiple ways,including violent repression(Algebraic Crusaders),investigative interrogations(the Inquisition),preach(the Mendicant Orders)and so on.With the rise of the authority of the church,the expansion of the jurisdiction,the religious conference has been unable to meet the needs of the church to deal with affairs,so a new special institution-the Consistory(the Church Court)appeared,which is handling of the case.The Religious Conference became a place,to deal with major matters and to publish church law.With the development of the judicial system and the organization of the Church,the emergence of heresy,the emergence of a special judicial institution dealing with the heresy-the Inquisition.A study on the origin and operation of Inquisition from a historical perspective,Which is researching the reason of establishing,developing and the procedure of the Inquisition.This paper takes ‘heresy' as an entry point,divided into three aspects.The discussion on the origin of Inquisition conducted from the definition,origin,classification of heresy and the way of the Church to suppress heresy.It proves that the establishment of Inquisition is inevitable,and the original intention is to suppress the popular heresy.For the establishment and development of Inquisition,its completion from the temporary organization to the permanent mechanism which include the special judge,the special guidance manuals and the perfect organizational structure.In addition,taking some cases which is from the historical trail of Inquisition to study.To some extent,it proves that Inquisition follows the operation procedure of the religious judgment,and maintains the authority of the Church.At the same time,it shows the mercy and justice of the God.Although Its high efficiency and high confidentiality caused a certain frighteningly to the society at that time,its essence is not dark.Although Inquisition was influenced by the great historical environment of western Europe in the Middle Ages,various social relations,rights and obligations.Inquisition which was controlled by the Pope,become a institution which was pushed by the personal or individual interests.And it created the trail of history,which similar to the trail of the knights of the Temple and Joan of Arc.But the number of people who were persecuted was so small.The data which was from the Carcassonne Inquisition proves the truth of the fact.Researching the origin and operation of Inquisition from a historical perspective.It is not only can understand the establishment and development process of the Inquisition,construct the judicial system of the church at that time,but also outline the image of the Church and the Inquisition in the historical process.This is extremely meaningful to the study about Christian history,the history of Western Justice,Church and Western Culture.