COURSE – A HUMBLE INQUIRY INTO THE INQUISITION – 21.1

The Sacred Office of the Holy Inquisition has come down to us through a lot of unflattering and in many cases inaccurate stereotypes. Although these have a ring of authenticity, none is particularly accurate. It is important to judge movements and events within their historical context. The Crusades are crucial to understanding the origins of the Inquisition which partly grew out of them. Having failed miserably in the Holy Land, the Crusades were brought home to stamp out alleged heresies within Christendom, whether these stemmed from pious sects, religious orders, Jewish and Muslims converts, Protestants, scientists, or witches.