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Lettres d’Uzès #25: Rewriting history - the Cathars and dualism

12/7/2012

5 Comments

 
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I’ve been back in the UK for a couple of weeks, where the conversation was dominated by bankers, tennis and the weather. Bob Diamond and Andy Murray both failed at the final hurdle; the one a cause for celebration, the other for commiseration. Murray will get another chance. One trusts that Diamond will not.

Of course, while I was away I kept in regular touch with events in the Uzège, and ensured the continuation of  cultural connections with the arrival on my Kindle app of the new book by Professor R.I. Moore. The War on Heresy: Faith and power in medieval Europe overturns much of what I had taken for granted about the dualist religions and philosophies collected under the catch-all title of Catharism, and one of the reasons why I took the received wisdom for granted was that historians such as Professor Moore had convinced me of it. He has changed his mind, and changed mine, not least by returning to primary sources and taking us back not merely to the 12th century but to 1022 and the first burnings in Western Europe in Orléans.

In fact, it appears, theological dualism, particularly in the Midi, was largely the creation of the inquisitors. The majority of Albigensians/Cathars/Manicheans et al were merely attempting a more ascetic way of life, of poverty and purity, more in keeping with their perception of the life of Christ, and with the thrust of the Gregorian reforms of the Church itself. In parallel, we also have the influence of Greek philosophy and in particular Plato, who argued that what is material is by definition transient and corruptible.

One can see how this can be characterised as a (potential) form of dualism, and how it might be developed into  a dualist philosophy. As Moore points out, “neoplatonists might deny that the Holy Spirit was contained in the water of baptism, or conveyed by the hands of the priest in blessing … without necessarily denying the sacraments themselves”. But is clear that the logical conclusion of this kind of thinking is the adoption of celibacy and vegetarianism, the denial of the pleasures of the flesh, which the bons hommes espoused and which distinguished them from their Catholic cousins, who certainly eschewed  poverty and to a large extent purity. (The side issue of Donatism, which argued that the efficacy of the communion was measured according to the moral rectitude of the priest, was a very specific danger indeed.)

In short, there was no sudden uprearing of heresy in the Midi in the 12th century. There was a great number of different strands of thought, all of which posed a threat – real or imagined – to the Church and the Vatican at a time when popes were looking to become monarchs and to win the battle with the eastern Churches. Dualism, an Eastern concept familiar to all students of theology, was a convenient scapegoat. The lifestyle of the so-called heretics was actually Christian, and exemplarily so. But dualism was a heresy and as such could be justifiably be used as a pretext for the Albigensian crusades.

And it is the success of that imperialist war which is the reason why I am writing this blog in France rather than L’Occitanie.

Today’s listening: Schubert’s String Quartet No 15, in G major by the New Orford Quartet, recommended to me by Peter Mendell last night. He is a friend of this excellent Canadian ensemble and also, I am proud to say, of mine.

5 Comments
margie mendell
12/7/2012 06:12:20

fascinating review Max...thank you for this and for adding Moore's book to my huge pile of "to read". Revisionist history alerts us to how vulneravle we are to "experts" and how a return to primary sources- a luxury few of us have- is startling by the revelations of events so contrary to those we are fed...On a less analytical but equally disturbing accout, I qm ploughing through and nearly finished Hilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies and again the dogmatism of the Church...Except for Cromwell, everyone in this second volume by Mantel is degenerate....And i was reading The Man who Became Caravaggio by Peter Robb before that. I note these because of the coincidence of disappearing into this world of Church and Monarchy in the 16th century, well after the period you describe, but the suppression of free thought continues. I enjoyed your review very much...And yes, the New Orford Quartet's recording is superb. We'll bring you a CD in August, lovely friend....

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Max Smith
13/7/2012 00:45:37

Moore, in previous books, spoke of the "persecuting society" during this period: how the Church responded to economic and social changes with a increasing intolerance of difference. Plus ca change? Travel safely and we'll see you when 're both back again. Xx

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Max Smith
13/7/2012 00:50:01

Hi Charlottte Don't you think the cathedral in Albi is the exemplar of "fuck-off architecture"; the Church proclaiming its power. "look on my works, ye mighty, and despair." thanks for your likes and comments as ever. Xx

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charlotte ford
16/7/2012 06:37:03

Oh definately ! I recall,even after 20 yrears, a very austere and forboding presence from both the exterior and interior (which was both magnificent yet overwhelmingly gloomy at the same time, I then thought. Our next stop was the Lautrec Museum ,also unforgettable because I had hitherto only connected him with his posters ! Very best wishes from both of us to yourself and Gill, and hoping the sun shines for you ! XX

charlotte ford
12/7/2012 06:29:35

While in Albi a few years ago Ken and myself visited the church where the pacifist Cathars along with the mercenaries they had recruited to protect them( and presumably kill for them) were slaughtered as heretics. Confusingly the mercenaries were said to have converted to the Cathars belief system which would make it difficult to then act as merceneries. It is a history that really intrigues ,and we have quite a number of books on the subject . I always wonder how the references have been selected upon looking at bibliography pages ! Thankyou for reviewing The War on Heresy, shall now set about ordering a copy for the Ford reading and self improvement faculty as it sounds a very interesting addition (and a good one)

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     Max Smith

    European writer, radical, restaurateur and Red Sox fan. 70-something husband, father, step-father. and grandfather. Resident in Warwick, England.

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