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> The truth is that Inquisition aim was exactly opposite: to stop chasing and burning innocent woman (and man) by all kind of petty lords and civil "courts" who

by brazzy 6y ago

> The truth is that Inquisition aim was exactly opposite: to stop chasing and burning innocent woman (and man) by all kind of petty lords and civil "courts" who used witchcraft accusation to get rid of opponents. This was done in the name of Catholic Church so Rome decided to do something about this and stop that practice by introduction of pretty modern standards of court proceedings - this way Inquisition was born. This is really not true. Handling Witchcraft trials better had absolutely nothing to do with why the Inquisition was established. Its original and foremost job was to stomp out heretics (and later, in Spain, Muslims and Jews) in an organized and efficient way. If anything, it used torture more than had previously been common. But yes, it established standard procedures that were much less arbitrary and gave some rights to the defendant. > In addition the punishment for heresy was rarely death penalty (about 1,5% of cases), which is less than 5 thousand executions during several centuries of Inquisition activity. The main reason was that the death penalty was only given to unrepentant or repeat offenders.

bobthechef 6y ago
It wasn't that simple. The problem of the conversos was a major political problem. This didn't happen over night. Jews had occupied many high positions in Spain and following the ultimatum that Jews either convert or leave, the widespread belief among the populace that many of those converting were merely simulating conversion simply to remain in those high positions was a threat to social order and probably even an existential threat to a Spain just recovered from Islamic Moorish rule. The Inquisition set out to determine whether these claims were true in a process that was actually much more just than was the norm during that time period.
- coffeefirst 6y ago
  All of which was of no consolation to the people being imprisoned, tortured or burned to death.
User23 6y ago
> The main reason was that the death penalty was only given to unrepentant or repeat offenders. And even then in their spiritual world view the auto-da-fé was a last ditch effort to persuade the condemned to repent. It gave the sinner a taste of the eternal fires awaiting them and time enough to make an act of perfect contrition and be saved from hell.

by brazzy 6y ago

bobthechef 6y ago

It wasn't that simple. The problem of the conversos was a major political problem. This didn't happen over night. Jews had occupied many high positions in Spain and following the ultimatum that Jews either convert or leave, the widespread belief among the populace that many of those converting were merely simulating conversion simply to remain in those high positions was a threat to social order and probably even an existential threat to a Spain just recovered from Islamic Moorish rule. The Inquisition set out to determine whether these claims were true in a process that was actually much more just than was the norm during that time period.

coffeefirst 6y ago
All of which was of no consolation to the people being imprisoned, tortured or burned to death.

User23 6y ago

> The main reason was that the death penalty was only given to unrepentant or repeat offenders. And even then in their spiritual world view the auto-da-fé was a last ditch effort to persuade the condemned to repent. It gave the sinner a taste of the eternal fires awaiting them and time enough to make an act of perfect contrition and be saved from hell.