In the middle ages who would have been considered a heretic by the church
During the Middle Ages, the church considered several groups of people as heretics. Some of the key groups included:
1. Cathars: The Cathars, also known as the Albigensians, were a religious sect in Southern France that rejected the authority of the Catholic Church and its sacraments. They believed in a dualistic worldview, considering the physical world to be evil and the spiritual world to be good.
2. Waldensians: The Waldensians were followers of Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant from Lyon, France. They believed in the principles of poverty and preaching the gospel in the vernacular language. The Catholic Church considered their unauthorized preaching as a direct challenge to its authority.
3. Lollards: The Lollards were followers of John Wycliffe, an English theologian who criticized the Catholic Church's teachings and practices. They advocated for reforms such as translating the Bible into English and opposed clerical wealth and corruption.
4. Hussites: The Hussites were followers of Jan Hus, a Czech theologian who criticized the Catholic Church's corruption and emphasized the importance of personal faith. They demanded reforms, including the right to receive communion in both wine and bread and the elimination of worldliness within the clergy.
5. Templars: The Knights Templar, a medieval Christian military order, faced accusations of heresy during the early 14th century. The Catholic Church accused them of various charges, including denying Christ, worshiping idols, and engaging in secret rituals.
It is important to note that the Church's definition of heretics varied over time and different groups faced scrutiny in different periods. Additionally, the Church had different ways of dealing with heretics, including excommunication, imprisonment, or even execution in extreme cases.