Crusades And The Spanish Inquisition: A Comparative Analysis

Liberalism and Socialism share the ideology of separation of church and state. The origin of this idea results from the tragedies executed by the state during the middle ages. The Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition serve as an example of the misuse of power that originated as the church was openly involved in politics. The Enlightenment emerged to counter the church-based thinking, because it shifted the focus towards the individual. This new philosophy brought upon the liberal philosopher John Locke, who called for a clear separation between the church and the state. Locke stated “Political society is instituted for no other end, but only to secure every man’s possession of the things of this life. The care of each man’s soul, and of the things of heaven, which neither does belong to the commonwealth nor can be subjected to it, is left entirely to man” (Ishay, 78). Locke argues that the government has to
Although they both advocate for the separation of church and state, both ideologies differ on the other aspects of human social organization. The distinction between the two is a result of their economic philosophy. Liberalism, since it argues for individual rights, works perfect with capitalism because capitalism too relies on individual rights and property rights to function. On the other hand, Socialism reacts to capitalism and liberalism by pushing for a more equalitarian society. Socialism views the world through economic inequality, which leads it to conclude that inequality effectively hurts the majority. The good for the majority ideology, leads Socialism to push for collective human rights with the idea that property rights cannot universal rights because property is not properly available to all. The differences between the two are extremely important because they have led to critical observations and changes on the way humanity shapes its