by

Ted Daniels, Ph.D.

Electronic version copyright © Ted Daniels 1997. All rights reserved
Originally published in Millennialism: An International Bibliography by Garland Publishing New York, 1992. Reproduced here by permission.
URL for this article is http://www.

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         689. Turberville, Arthur S. Mediaeval Heresy and the Inquisition. Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1964 (first pub. 1920).
        A history of Church opposition to heresy, which sometimes was millennial. Turberville observes that knowledge of heresies comes entirely from the opposition; nevertheless, it is "safe" to accept that many were no purer than the church. This appears to be contradicted by his later citation of an Inquistor on how to spot heretics:

"HereticsÊ...Êare recognized by their customs and speech, for they are modest and well-regulated. They take no pride in their garments, which are neither costly nor vile. They do not engage in trade, to avoid lies and oaths and frauds, but live by their labors as mechanics--their teachers are cobblers. They do not accumulate wealth, but are content with necessaries. They are chaste and temperate in meat and drink. They do not frequent taverns or dances or other vanities. They restrain themselves from anger. They are always at work; they teach and learn and consequently preach but little. They are to be known by their modesty and precision of speech, avoiding scurrility and detraction, light words and lies and oaths" (p. 21).

It might be of interest to note that Arneaud of Citeaux, a leader of the Albigensian crusade, is quoted as saying "Kill them all, for God knows his own." One can today buy T-Shirts with a similar message: "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out." Cf SzšvŽrffy, 1960: item 669.


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