Medieval Challenges

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the papacy underwent great reforms in medieval times, changing the pope's role from a political one to a primarily spiritual and doctrinal function. It looks at how in the process, the pope's influence over Europe's emerging nation-states was diminished, especially later in the medieval era, when the Protestant Reformation divided Christianity in western and central Europe. In particular, it discusses how the theocratic ideal of papal sovereignty faced its most significant challenge from a religious viewpoint.

From the Paper:

"In painting the opposition against the papacy with the broad brush of religion, clarification is required to understand more fully what is meant by a claim of religious challenges to the pope and his fabricated fiefdom. Of course, religion in this context refers to the activities, attitudes, and actions that those affiliated with the church undertook at the time in terms of challenges to the established order of the pope and his minions. More specifically, the people who had devoted their lives to the church, be they clergy or laypersons, found that their faith and devotion was being mocked, diluted, and destroyed by the pope, whomever the pope happened to be in a given era, due to the ever increasing role of the papacy as a sort of kingdom, far removed from the heavenly kingdom of God that the followers and parishioners of the Catholic faith sought to inherit. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Davis, N. The Return of Martin Guerre.1984.
• Spielvogel, J. J. Western Civilization Since 1300. 6th ed.

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