The following command will set your character's faith to 'Waldensianism.'
The following command will add the specified amount of fervor to 'Waldensianism.'
The Waldensians, also known as Vaudois, are a pre-Protestant Christian movement originated in the late twelfth century from Lyon, southeast France. The movement was started by Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant who decided to abandon his comfortable lifestyle and dedicate his life to preaching poverty, pastoral ministry, and adherence to the Bible.
The Waldensians hold beliefs close to the Protestant Reformation, emphasizing on personal piety, poverty, and adherence to the Bible. Unlike the mainstream church, they insisted on the right of the laity to preach and rejected several tenets of the Catholic Church, including purgatory and indulgences, which led to their persecution.
The Waldensians were declared heretics by Pope Lucius III in 1184. Subsequently, they were persecuted throughout the Middle Ages and early Renaissance periods. Despite being granted some form of protection by the princes of Savoy in the 16th century, they were subjected to frequent bouts of severe persecution, which nearly resulted in their extermination in the 17th century.
During the Protestant Reformation, they aligned with Calvinism and were granted recognition and rights by Oliver Cromwell, an English military and political leader. However, they continued to face oppression until full civil rights were granted in the mid-19th century.
Today, the Waldensian Church is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the World Council of Churches. Estimated to number around 20,000 members, most Waldensians live in Italy, followed by Argentina and Uruguay.
Beyond their religious beliefs, the Waldensians have made substantial contributions to society, particularly in the areas of charity and education. They established schools, orphanages, and hospitals in every community where they settled, reflecting their commitment to social justice and the well-being of all.
Despite their tumultuous history and small size, the Waldensians' impact on the protestant reformation and their dedication to faith, educational equality, and social justice is undeniable. They represent a piece of Christian history that emphasizes the power of faith against persecution.
Holding that the accumulation of wealth is an anathema that is incompatible with achieving salvation, Waldensians preach apostolic poverty as being the path to perfection and believe that priests should hold neither titles nor lands.
The Waldensian religion, started by Peter Waldo in the 12th century, is a Christian movement that emphasizes poverty, preaching, and the Bible as the only source of authority - it was one of the earliest entities to challenge the Roman Catholic Church. With its core beliefs mostly in line with Protestant Christianity today, the denomination faced severe persecution until finally getting legal recognition in the 19th century; today, it’s merged with the Methodist Church in Italy.
Faith | Faith ID |
---|---|
Adoptionism | adoptionist |
Bosnian Church | bosnian_church |
Cathar | cathar |
Insularism | insular_celtic |
Lollardy | lollard |
Mozarabism | mozarabic_church |
Waldensianism | waldensian |