History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe, Vol. II

CONTENTS

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER IV.—continued.

Men who believe the doctrine that salvation is found in the Church alone will always engage in persecution. The success of persecution is demonstrated in the cases of the Japanese Christians In the 17th century, the Japanese government effectively eradicated Christianity through intense and systematic persecution., the Albigenses A medieval religious sect in southern France that was wiped out during the Albigensian Crusade in the 13th century., the Spanish Protestants, the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew A targeted group of assassinations and a wave of Catholic mob violence directed against the Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) in 1572., and the penal laws of Elizabeth I.

The weakness of the objection based on the history of Ireland and that of the English Dissenters Protestants who separated from the established Church of England.. The true cause of opinions. The influence of the Levitical Laws original: "Levitical Laws." These are the religious laws found in the biblical book of Leviticus, which were often cited by historical rulers to justify the execution of heretics and idolaters. on the practice of persecution.

The opinions of the Church Fathers The influential early Christian theologians and writers. were determined chiefly by their circumstances. The uncompromising tolerance advocated by Lactantius. Constantine persecutes the Jews, the heretics, and the pagans. A review of their condition before the reign of Theodosius. The destruction of temples in the rural districts. Libanius A Greek teacher of rhetoric and a pagan who pleaded with the emperors to spare the ancient temples..

Even during the days of persecution, Cyprian regarded the Levitical system as the foundation for dealing with heretics. The theology of persecution was systematized by Augustine; his character and influence. An aversion to the shedding of blood. Saint Martin and Saint Ambrose. The opinion that the clergy original: "Ecclesiastics" should under no circumstances cause the death of men.

The increase of the collective action of the Church stimulates persecution. The first monks. The ruin of paganism. The Church was then, for several centuries, an almost unmixed blessing to the world. The decomposition of medieval original: "Mediæval" society renews heresies, which are then met by persecution. Innocent III A powerful Pope who expanded the use of the Inquisition and authorized the crusade against the Albigenses..

The unparalleled scale and cruelty of the persecution carried out by Catholicism. Protestants persecuted not so cruelly, but quite...