Author Description

Mention of the Inquisition conjures up images of torture and executions conducted under the auspices of the Catholic Church in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. In the popular imagination, hooded Inquisitors violently questioned thousands of people, and thousands were put to death for disagreeing with the Church. Antisemitism supposedly flourished, along with hostility toward Moors. In truth, the Inquisition, as an ecclesiastical court, only had authority over Christians, was primarily concerned with combating public heresy, and was less violent that is customarily believed. This book examines some of the major controversies related to the Inquisition. The book begins with an introduction that places the Inquisition in its historical context. This is followed by chapters on popular misconceptions related to the Inquisition, with each chapter discussing how the misconception developed and spread, along with what is now believed to be the historical truth behind the myth. Excerpts from primary source documents help readers to understand why people believed the misconceptions and show what evidence we now have for the historical truths. The book closes with suggested resources for further research.