Religion: The Effect Of Religion From 1300-1500

The Effect of Religion from 1300-1500 Religion was a major focal point for developing societies in the 14th century to the 16th century. When the Black Death swept through Afro-Eurasia in the 14th century killing 25-50% of the population, the church in Europe took a major hit. The church was on a back foot because many believers and followers were disappointed in the Catholic Church’s refusal to provide charitable services. However, once the Black Death died down the church seemed to gain even more control and power in Europe. They redefined their doctrines and practices while demanding obedience to the true faith. This ultimately led to the persecution of Jews, Muslims, and other outsiders. Once again, the church was very strong and religion

Sparked by the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Reformation during this time period, Galileo set out to refute the ways of the church. In Galileo’s Letter to Madame Cristine di Lorena in 1615, he emphasizes his displeasure for the church. Galileo brings up the topic of how he thinks people should read sacred religious texts and proceeds to state, “But who could with all certainty insist that the Scripture has chosen rigorously to confine itself to the strict and literal meaning of words when it speaks incidentally of the Earth, water, the Sun, and other creatures?” (Galileo 54). In this excerpt, Galileo stresses the importance of not confining oneself to Scripture only and not taking everything Scripture states so literally. Later in the passage, Galileo also mentions, “But I do feel it necessary to believe that God, Who gave us senses, reason, and intellect, should have wished us to postpone using these gifts; that He has somehow given us, by other means, the information which we can obtain with our own senses, reason, and intellect; nor that He should want us to deny the senses and reason when sensory experience and logical demonstration have revealed something to our eyes and minds!” (Galileo 55). This statement by Galileo highlights the idea that God

The letter brings up the concept of “just because someone said that something is true, doesn’t mean that it is”. Galileo is attempting to show the ordinary people during that time period that just because the church says that the Sun revolves around the Earth, doesn’t mean that it is true. Galileo also points out how the church abuses its power by connecting science directly to religion and how the church basically gave believers an ultimatum: believe that the Sun revolves around the Earth or you aren’t a true believer. Galileo, in a sense, firmly promotes individuality, having factual evidence to back up your beliefs, and promotes looking at the world with a different perspective. These are all things in which the church was set to control during this time period. Thus began the Reformation and Era of