scholarly journals Giambattista Della Porta and the Roman Inquisition: censorship and the definition of Nature's limits in sixteenth-century Italy

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
NEIL TARRANT
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Philosophical Investigation ◽  
Complex Picture ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

AbstractIt has long been noted that towards the end of the sixteenth century the Catholic Church began to use its instruments of censorship – the Inquisition and the Index of Forbidden Books – to prosecute magic with increased vigour. These developments are often deemed to have had important consequences for the development of modern science in Italy, for they delimited areas of legitimate investigation of the natural world. Previous accounts of the censorship of magic have tended to suggest that the Church as an institution was opposed to, and sought to eradicate, the practice of magic. I do not seek to contest the fact that ecclesiastical censors prosecuted various magical and divinatory practices with greater enthusiasm at this time, but I suggest that in order to understand this development more fully it is necessary to offer a more complex picture of the Church. In this article I use the case of the Neapolitan magus Giambattista Della Porta to argue that during the course of the century the acceptable boundaries of magical speculation became increasingly clearly defined. Consequently, many practices and techniques that had previously been of contested orthodoxy were categorically defined as heterodox and therefore liable to prosecution and censorship. I argue, however, that this development was not driven by the Church asserting a ‘traditional’ hostility towards magic, but was instead the result of one particular faction within the Church embedding their conception of orthodox philosophical investigation of the natural world within the machinery of censorship.

Reason and Revelation in Luther

1960 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-365
Author(s):  
Bernhard Lohse
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Human Reason ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
New Form ◽  
Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Theology And Philosophy ◽  
The Church ◽  
German Universities

Luther's conception of reason and revelation has not yet found the attention which it deserves. Though some new studies have tried to interpret his view of human reason, neither his conception of revelation as such nor his definition of the relation between reason and revelation has been the object of special research. This fact which at first sight seems rather surprising is not accidental. Rather it is the consequence of a very important development which had taken place already in the sixteenth century. It was primarily Melanchthon and not Luther whom Protestant theologians in the post-Reformation era followed. While Luther was the reformer of the Church, Melanchthon was the reformer of the German universities and the whole education system. With respect to their theology, Luther and Melanchchon differed considerably as is well known. The ideas by which Melanchthon reformed the German universities were, roughly speaking, a combination of Protestant theology as regards the doctrine of justification and a more or less unaltered Aristotelian system as regards the relation between theology and philosophy. The Melanchthonian reform gave the German universities their shape for centuries till the new ideas of rationalism and of modern science won the universities in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and gave them a new form. But it seems that Melanchthon's conception of reason and revelation is even today of great significance and influence. It has at least determined most modern studies which have dealt with Luther's conception of reason and revelation.

The Catholic Church Vis-à-Vis Liberal Society

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 357-363
Author(s):  
Roger Cardinal Etchegaray ◽  
Translated by Mei Lin Chang
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Church And State ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Liberal Society ◽  
Essential Point ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Cardinal Etchegaray argues here that the dialogue between church and state, with both parties rooted in sometimes conflicting absolute claims and values, has become more recently a wider-ranging dialogue between the church and a pluralist, relativist liberal society. The very definition of “liberal society” is open to argument, and the church may find elements to commend or oppose in any given definition. Since the nineteenth century the church has often found itself in opposition to various ideas of “liberty,” especially those that represent an idolatry of absolute rights that push aside Christian spiritual and moral concerns. Now that liberalism has become the pervasive model for society, the church finds it may more easily express its critique, with the aim of making society more conducive to allowing people to become fully human. Indeed, the church provides a necessary check on the excesses of liberal society, particularly those of capitalism and democratic populism. Its essential point is the transcendent dimension of the human person—our connection with the divine. The pursuit of economic and political ends needs to be governed by a concern for the ethical, itself founded on the divine. Liberal society will only live up to its own highest aspirations through promoting self-mastery and an awareness that humanity’s freedom is ultimately found only in God.

Revelation and Cosmology

2021 ◽  
pp. 473-491
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Barr
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Divine Revelation ◽  
Divine Nature ◽  
Sacred Scripture ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Revelation takes many forms. The Book of Wisdom tells us that God reveals himself through the natural world: ‘From the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator’ (Wis. 13:5). St Paul echoes this in Rom. 1:20, where he says that God’s eternal power and divine nature, though invisible, are ‘seen through the things he has made’. This is called ‘natural revelation’. Christians believe that God has also revealed himself supernaturally, first through the prophets and definitively through the Incarnation. The Catholic Church teaches that this revelation has been given to the Church and that its content is to be found both in Sacred Scripture and in Sacred Tradition. This chapter will refer to that which has been supernaturally revealed as ‘divine revelation’. The topic of revelation and cosmology can be divided into two kinds of question, both of which will be discussed in this chapter. First, what does divine revelation teach us about the cosmos? Secondly Second, in what ways does the cosmos itself reveal something about God?

scholarly journals "What shall I do? The more I kill the greater becomes their number!": the suppression of Anabaptism in early sixteenth century

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 182-192
Author(s):  
Margot Kottelin-Longley
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
New Testament ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Reform Movement ◽  
Theological Understanding ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way ◽  
The Catholic Church

The Anabaptist movement was a ‘common man’s reform movement’ in Luther’s Europe. The Anabaptists wanted to reform the church according to New Testament guidelines more radically than either Luther or Zwingli were ready to do. For example, they baptised adults instead of infants, because they had observed that only adults were baptised in the Gospels, including the baptism of Jesus. In reformation Europe any adults baptised by these reformers would have already received baptism as infants. It was this practise of re-baptising members of the Catholic Church that gave them the name ‘Anabaptists’. ‘Re-baptism’ was a heresy deserving death, and to classify these radical reformers thus made them legally subject to execution. In this article the author first explains what she means by the ‘Anabaptist movement’. This includes an introduction to early Swiss Anabaptism and to the way in which it was speedily persecuted by the religious authorities. This persecution caused flight and that in turn caused the movement to spread. As the number of Anabaptists increased to thousands, so did the persecution by torture and death. Stories of some Anabaptist martyrs are recounted during the course of this article. The author also looks at the various justifications for the burning of heretics, as well as at the corresponding theological understanding by those who were burned.

New Frontiers

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Catholic Priests ◽  
Financial Scandals ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Back in the early sixteenth century, things looked fairly bleak for the Catholic Church. Sensational accounts of sexual and financial scandals involving Catholic priests had inflamed public opinion, fueling perceptions of the Church as arrogant and hypocritical. Internally, the Church was torn by fierce theological...

The Sermon as A Multimedial Instrument of Communication in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalia Marija StančIene
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Martin Luther ◽  
The Other ◽  
Lay People ◽  
Counter Reformation ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Important Means ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Abstract At the end of the sixteenth century, during the Christianization of Lithuania, sermons became one of the most important means of communication. As a medium, the sermon functioned through systems of codified sounds and symbols, as well as representing the institution of the Church for which it served as a broadcaster. Increased attention to the sermon was prompted by the desire of the Catholic Church to resist the Reformation and to preserve its spiritual monopoly. Martin Luther and Erasmus of Rotterdam underlined the importance of preaching, claiming that preaching the Gospels could improve society. The Jesuits instructed preachers not to limit themselves to religious matters alone but also to pay attention to social and political problems. There were two kinds of sermon: one for churchmen, preached in Latin; the other for lay people, in the vernacular. The Jesuits trained priests to preach in Lithuanian.

Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, Toronto, 11th July 1982

Moreana ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (Number 157- (1-2) ◽  
pp. 58-71
Author(s):  
John McConica
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Church Of England ◽  
Historical Review ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
International Commission ◽  
Medieval Studies ◽  
John Paul Ii ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

During the period in which these papers were given, there were great achievements on the ecumenical scene, as the quest to restore the Church’s unity was pursued enthusiastically by all the major Christiandenominations. The Papal visit of John Paul II to England in 1982 witnessed a warmth in relationships between the Church of England and the Catholic Church that had not been experienced since the early 16th century Reformation in England to which More fell victim. The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission was achieving considerable doctrinal consensus and revisionist scholarship was encouraging an historical review by which the faithful Catholic and the confessing Protestant could look upon each other respectfully and appreciatively. It is to this ecumenical theme that James McConica turns in his contribution.

The Church as a Sacrament in a Time of Pandemic: The Philippine Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-280
Author(s):  
Rhoderick John Suarez Abellanosa
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Social Instability ◽  
Presence Of God ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

The declaration of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in various provinces and cities in the Philippines did not impede the Catholic Church from celebrating its sacraments and popular devotions. Mired with poverty and various forms of economic and social limitations, the presence of God for Filipinos is an essential element in moving forward and surviving in a time of pandemic. Predominantly Roman Catholic in religious affiliation, seeking the face of God has been part of Filipinos' lives whenever a serious disaster would strike. This essay presents how the clergy, religious and lay communities in the Philippines have innovatively and creatively sustained treasured religious celebrations as a sign of communion and an expression of faith. In addition to online Eucharistic celebrations that are more of a privilege for some, culturally contextualised efforts were made during the Lenten Season and even on Sundays after Easter. This endeavour ends with a reflection on the Church as the sacrament of God in a time of pandemic. Pushed back to their homes, deprived of life's basic necessities and facing threats of social instability, unemployment and hunger, Filipinos through their innovative celebrations find in their communion with their Church the very presence of God acting significantly in their lives.

KOŚCIÓŁ KATOLICKI WOBEC ZAGADNIENIA MAŁŻEŃSTW MIESZANYCH RELIGIJNIE W KONTEKŚCIE MIGRACJI

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-45
Author(s):  
Piotr Wojnicz
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Canon Law ◽  
International Level ◽  
Holy Trinity ◽  
Mixed Marriages ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

The increase in migration at the international level also increases the number of religiouslymixed marriages. The Catholic Church advises against entering into such marriages because thisissue refers to the laws of God and the question of preserving faith. The Catholic Church approvesof mixed marriages in terms of nationality or race because belonging to the Church is primarilydetermined by faith in Jesus Christ and baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity. Independentlyof canon law, progressive social secularization is noticeable on that subject matter.

PRZEŚLADOWANIA KOŚCIOŁA KATOLICKIEGO NA ZIEMIACH POLSKICH W DOBIE POWSTANIA STYCZNIOWEGO W ŚWIETLE RAPORTU KONSULATU FRANCJI W WARSZAWIE Z 1869 ROKU

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 67-88
Author(s):  
Jacek Wojda
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Political Repression ◽  
Hard Time ◽  
Church And Society ◽  
History Of ◽  
Difficult Position ◽  
Apostolic See ◽  
Xix Century ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Seventieth of XIX century were very hard time for Catholic Church in Polish Kingdom. Mainreason was aim for independency in Poles’ hearts. Deeply connected with polish nation, Churchsuffered because of Tsar’ political repression. Although different stages of its history are not closelyconnected with post uprising’s repressions.Report of French General Consulate in Warsaw bearing a date 1869 stress accent on samekind of the Catholic Church persecutions, which were undertaken against bishops and dioceseadministrators, and some of them were died during deportation on Siberia, north or south Russia.Hierarchy was put in a difficult position. They had to choose or to subordinate so called Rome CatholicSpiritual Council in Petersburg or stay by the Apostolic See side. Bishop Konstanty Łubieński isacknowledged as the first Victim of that repressions.Outlook upon history of persecutions, which is presented, shows not only Church but pointsout harmful consequences Russia’s politics in the Church and society of the Polish Kingdom. Citedarchival source lets us know way of looking and analysing history during 1861−1869 by Frenchdiplomats.

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