Medieval Religion and Superstition

By Andy Irwin and Matthew WattsPeriod 19/28/09

Importance of Religion

The population of the Medieval Era, or Middle Ages, lived and breathed religion in almost everything they did.

Even the simplest daily and weekly rituals and habits had religious parts to them, and they interpreted their experiences through a religious aspect of perceiving things.

Their lives also revolved around major religious festivals that took place during the time.

The Different Religions of the Middle Ages

Most inhabitants of Europe during the Medieval Era were Christians, being either Catholics (Western Europe) or Orthodox (Eastern Europe).

Many Jews also lived throughout Europe, as well as a good number of Muslims.

Additionally, in the beginning of this period of time, many living in the country still believed in the Greek and Roman deities.

The Medieval Catholic Church Western Europeans claimed during the

Middle Ages that there was only one church, and that it was the Catholic Church.

The Medieval Catholic Church was led by the Pope and was responsible for providing salvation for people.

The Catholic Church was intolerant of other beliefs; they would execute people who disagreed with them because they viewed them as a threat.

Privileges of the Catholic Church

The Church had several privileges that made it powerful, including:1. Tithes--The Church took 10% of

everything produced by the commoners as a tax each year.

2. Laws, Courts—The Church had its own laws and courts, separate from the King’s laws and Royal courts.

The Hierarchy of the Church A man known as Pseudo-Dionysius provided

the Middle Ages with their idea of human order, or hierarchy.

He based his idea on the fundamental idea of holiness, especially the superior holiness of the divine.

In this idea, all religious representatives in the Middle Ages were seen as having a definite place in a strict hierarchy, and religious rights were given to each section of the hierarchy.

A Salvation-Centered Society

Society during the Middle Ages worried about what would happen to them in the afterlife greatly.

The most important thing to them was whether they achieved salvation after death.

This desire made them not concerned with improving anything on Earth or in their lives.

To gain salvation, Church members had to participate in sacraments, or good works. If someone’s works pleased God, then they would be rewarded with forgiveness and salvation.

The Idea of an Interventionist God

All religious people in the Medieval Era believed God intervened on Earth constantly.

His intervention, in their point of view, included making events happen and shaping the future according to His divine plan.

Medieval Superstition

Superstition was viewed as much more important than science in the Middle Ages.

To medieval scholars, superstition is associated with the beliefs outside or against Christianity.

Superstition and ignorance ran rampant during the Middle Ages, along with stories of creatures and folklore we still refer to today.

Superstitions to Prevent Diseases

Several superstitious practices used to prevent sickness during the Middle Ages include:1. Washing babies in dirty dishwater to

keep them from growing up sickly2. Stringing a rabbit’s foot around a

baby’s neck to prevent disease3. Turning their own shoes upside down

under their beds before the people went to sleep

The Catholic Church on Superstition

The Catholic Church defined superstitious practices as practices that didn’t rely on nature or on divine power.

The Church campaigned against these superstitious religious practices, and wanted the people to rely on faith and religion rather than superstition.

The superstitious practices being campaigned against included the wearing of charms and talismans.

The Crusades

The Crusades were a series of military expeditions waged by the European Christians in the Middle Ages, designed to remove the Muslims from the “Holy Land”.

They are often seen as a shameful war, fueled by intolerance and greed.

Although the Crusades failed their ultimate goal, they led to many positive changes in Europe.

Europe’s rise to world power and influence was the result of the increased contact with the Muslim world that the Crusades caused.

Religious Holidays in the Medieval Age

The festivals of Christmas, Easter, Transfiguration, Assumption, and Exaltation of the Cross were big public worship holidays.

Candlemass was a Pagan holiday on which people danced and jumped around bonfires built on the yards of churches.