In the middle ages who have been considered a heretic by the church
During the Middle Ages, anyone who deviated from the teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Church could be considered a heretic. Some groups and individuals who were often labeled as heretics included:
1. Cathars: This was a Christian dualist movement that was particularly active in Southern France and Northern Italy in the 12th and 13th centuries. They were considered heretics mainly because they rejected the authority of the Catholic Church, the sacraments, and the belief that Christ had a physical body.
2. Waldensians: This was a Christian movement that originated in Lyon, France, in the late 12th century. Their main teachings included the rejection of the authority of the Pope and the clergy, as well as the belief that anyone could preach and interpret the Bible. They were also accused of rejecting the sacraments and the cult of the saints.
3. Templars: The Knights Templar was a Christian military order that was founded in the 12th century to protect European pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. However, they were accused of heresy in the early 14th century and eventually disbanded by the Pope. Some of the charges against them included denying the divinity of Christ, worshiping a mysterious head called Baphomet, and engaging in homosexual practices.
4. Albigensians: This was another Christian movement that was active in Southern France in the 12th and 13th centuries. They rejected many of the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church, including the sacraments, the priesthood, and the use of images in worship. They were also accused of promoting free love, rejecting marriage, and of practicing ritual murder.
5. Joan of Arc: Joan of Arc was a peasant girl from Eastern France who claimed to receive visions from God that commanded her to lead the French army to victory during the Hundred Years' War. She was accused of heresy by the English and their French allies and was eventually burned at the stake in 1431. Heresy charges against her included the claims that she had heard voices, had dressed like a man, and was challenging the authority of the Church.