Christianity During The Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages the existence of God was accepted as fact. The ultimate goal of Christian belief was salvation, or saving. Salvation was gained through following the beliefs of the church, performing good works, and living a moral life. Through salvation a Christian gained entrance into heaven. Christians believed that heaven was a paradise where they would live forever without desires or needs, in the presence of God, the angels and saints, and all other saved souls. Saints were Christians who had lived especially holy or important lives and were believed to hold a special position in heaven. Christians believed that the soul was the part of the body that went to heaven or to hell.
During the Medieval Ages, all Christians in western …show more content…
This church was organized as a hierarchy in which all members of the clergy had a rank. The head priest of a parish, or local church, was called a pastor. A diocese was a group of neighboring parishes. Each diocese was governed by a bishop, who ruled his diocese from a cathedral, or large, centrally located church. Dioceses were grouped regionally into provinces, called archdioceses, which were ruled by archbishops. In turn, these archbishops were governed by cardinals, who lived in Rome and counseled the pope. The pope was the bishop of Rome, a title inherited from the apostle Peter, whom Christians believe was chosen by Jesus to lead Christ's followers after His death. In the medieval era, the church wielded great power. By the year 1050, the church was the largest landholder in Europe. The church had its own code of law, called canon law, and administered its own courts, which rivaled the feudal courts. Very few people outside of the clergy could read or write. This included kings and nobles, which meant that priests and monks served as record keepers and assistants to royalty. Consequently, the church gained political position and power. At times the church and state officials worked very well together, but at other times they fought over
During the Medieval Ages, all Christians in western …show more content…
This church was organized as a hierarchy in which all members of the clergy had a rank. The head priest of a parish, or local church, was called a pastor. A diocese was a group of neighboring parishes. Each diocese was governed by a bishop, who ruled his diocese from a cathedral, or large, centrally located church. Dioceses were grouped regionally into provinces, called archdioceses, which were ruled by archbishops. In turn, these archbishops were governed by cardinals, who lived in Rome and counseled the pope. The pope was the bishop of Rome, a title inherited from the apostle Peter, whom Christians believe was chosen by Jesus to lead Christ's followers after His death. In the medieval era, the church wielded great power. By the year 1050, the church was the largest landholder in Europe. The church had its own code of law, called canon law, and administered its own courts, which rivaled the feudal courts. Very few people outside of the clergy could read or write. This included kings and nobles, which meant that priests and monks served as record keepers and assistants to royalty. Consequently, the church gained political position and power. At times the church and state officials worked very well together, but at other times they fought over