Power Of The Albigensians During The 13th And 13th Century

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the power of the Roman Catholic Church was expanding at a rapid pace. Many new religious followers such as the Franciscans and specifically the Dominicans believed in preaching this religion. However, the church's power led to resentment from the Albigensians or Cathers. They were labeled as “heretics” and were spoken of very poorly. This led to the Cathers creating their own traditions and practices. They preached against the Catholic church and believed that it was evil versus good. Eventually, this began the Albigensian Crusade led by Pope Innocent III and most of the Albigensian population was killed. (Cole and Symes 311)

Bernard Gui was part of the Dominicans who honored the church and believed in defending

He outlines what the Albigensians “say of themselves that they are good Christians, who do not swear or lie, or speak evil of others; that they do not kill any man or animal, nor anything having the breath of life, and that they hold the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ and his gospel as the apostles taught.” (Gui) These values lead followers of the church to believe that Albigensians should be true devotees of the church as he describes them positively and respectably. However, Gui refutes this statement when he describes how “they talk to the laity of the evil lives of the clerks and prelates of the Roman Church pointing out and setting forth their pride, cupidity, avarice, and uncleanness of life, and such other evils as they know.” (Gui) This statement alters the tone of the excerpt and reveals the “realistic” beliefs of the Albigensians and how Bernard believed the name “good Christians” was a cover to their “true intentions.” Gui believed the actions of Albigensians were to weaken the church. However, the intentions of the Cathers were not to destroy the church but to break away from the rigid rules and practices. Bernard exposing these “true intentions” is meant to turn his audience against this group and to make them feel ostracized. Furthermore, the hatred towards the Albigensians was not actually due to their “true intentions”, but rather the sense of individualism spreading throughout society. The church felt threatened by these individualist groups and used the scapegoat of exposing the “true” intentions of the Cathers to gain