Cathar Faith
Commands
The following command will set your character's faith to 'Cathar.'
The following command will add the specified amount of fervor to 'Cathar.'
Overview
Who were the Cathars?
The Cathars, a name which means 'pure ones', were a group of Christians in the 12th to 14th centuries, primarily located in Southern Europe, notably including Italy and Southern France. They formed a sect known for its distinct theological beliefs that deviated from the mainstream Catholic Church doctrine.
Catharism and its Beliefs
The Cathar faith was unique and differentiated from Catholicism significantly. Two key tenets included dualism and Gnosticism. Dualists believe in the existence of two primal forces - good and evil, represented by God and the devil respectively. In the Gnostic philosophy, the Cathars held that God's kingdom was spiritual and contrastingly, the material world was the work of an evil power.
Another crucial aspect of the Cathar beliefs was the concept of spiritual purity. They lived austerely, practicing and promoting a lifestyle free from earthly pleasures and desires.
Cathar Crusades and the End of Catharism
The divergent beliefs of the Cathars instigated the hostility of the Catholic Church, leading to the infamous Albigensian Crusade in the early 13th Century. The crusade aimed at eradicating Catharism and bringing its believers back to Catholicism. This was an era of brutal religious warfare, marked by sieges, massacres, and persecutions.
Despite the harsh crusade, Catharism survived until the end of the 14th century. The last known Cathar deacon was burned at the stake in 1321.
Cathars' Cultural Legacy
Though their faith was extinguished, the legacy of the Cathars persists today, particularly in Southern France. The ruins of their castles, having stood as the last strongholds of Cathar resistance against the crusaders, are popular tourist attractions. The story of the Cathars continues to spark interest, leading to various studies and works in arts and literature.
In conclusion, the Cathars left behind a captivating heritage that continues to impress upon modern culture; an echo from a time of religious dissent and militant faith.
Information
In-Game Description
Teaching that all matter was created by Satan and is therefore inherently tainted with sin, Cathars believe that the only way to achieve salvation is to reject the materialistic world, and with it, all worldly desires.
The Cathar faith, also known as Catharism, was a Christian dualist movement that thrived in some areas of Southern Europe, particularly northern Italy and southern France, during the 12th to 14th centuries. Cathars believed in the existence of two gods, one representing good and the other evil, and rejected many traditional Christian practices including the sacraments, making it a controversial faith during the medieval period.
Christianity (Catholic) Faiths
| Faith | Faith ID |
|---|---|
| Adoptionism | adoptionist |
| Bosnian Church | bosnian_church |
| Cathar | cathar |
| Insularism | insular_celtic |
| Lollardy | lollard |
| Mozarabism | mozarabic_church |
| Waldensianism | waldensian |