Religion in the Middle Ages

WHY WAS RELIGION SO IMPORTANT IN THE MIDDLE AGES?

In Europe during the Middle Ages nearly everyone believed in GOD.

They followed the ROMAN CATHOLIC religion.

This was led by the POPE in Rome. It was the main religion in Europe at this time.

People believed that HEAVEN and HELL were very real places. Where you ended up depended on how you lived your life on Earth!

For some people life seemed very hard and Heaven seemed a warm comforting place to make up for all the suffering on Earth.

People also used religion to explain things:
FOR EXAMPLE:

If they fell and broke their arm they felt it was a PUNISHMENT FROM GOD!
To be sure of getting to Heaven you had to ensure you did certain things on earth - like donating money to the Church.

HOW DID PEOPLE FIND OUT WHAT THE CHURCH BELIEVED?

Most people in the Middle ages were very poor. School had to be paid for so most could not read or write.

To make matters worse the Church had its own language called LATIN!! Only the very rich and educated could understand it!!

This meant most people had very little idea what was written in the Bible or what was said in church services!
How then could they understand and believe?

The church thought of clever ways to help people understand the bible: (TRY TO REMEMBER THEM)

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
STATUES
PICTURES
THE PRIEST

One special type of PICTURES were called DOOM PAINTINGS.

These were HUGE paintings painted in churches to try and show people what Heaven and Hell were like.

This was to make people believe and follow the Church.

Look below CAN YOU SPOT these??
1. Murderers being put into a pot of boiling oil?
2. A bridge of spikes for dishonest workmen?
3. A money lender burning —but still counting money?
4. Demons pulling people off the ladder
5. A woman having her hand bitten by a dog
6. A drunken pilgrim drinking from a wine bottle
7. Jesus defeating the devil who has his hands tied
8. Angels helping people up the ladder into Heaven
9. St Michael weighing peoples souls to see if they are good enough to get into heaven

WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHURCH?

Many people in the Middle Ages were scared or respectful of the church BUT there were many who had big problems with it and things they felt were wrong and needed Reformed or Changed:

FIRSTLY: LATIN was the special language of the Church. BIBLES were written in it and Religious services were said in it. Most ordinary people couldn't understand!! The PRIEST sometimes didn't understand what he was saying!!!
SECONDLY THE CHURCH WASN'T FREE. Everyone had to give 10% of what they grew or earned. This was called a TITHE.: They had to give this even when harvests were bad!! They had to even give the Priest their second best animal when a person died!! People were angry about this!

HOW WAS THE CHURCH ORGANISED?

HOW DID PEOPLE SHOW HOW RELIGIOUS THEY WERE?

There were a number of ways people could show how religious they were. Many would want to please God to get to Heaven. Others would want to be healed from sickness and believed they could be healed through pleasing God

People would GIVE MONEY to the church
People would make a special religious journey or PILGRIMAGE
Some would buy special religious objects called RELICS or PARDONS
Men could show how religious they were by going on a CRUSADE - (Religious war)
Men and Women may devote their lives to God by becoming MONKS or NUNS

PILGRIMAGES

A PILGRIMAGE IS A RELIGIOUS JOURNEY. In the Middle Ages people would make long journeys to travel to special HOLY SITES or SHRINES.
They believed by doing so they would get a blessing from God or perhaps get healed from a disease.

People today still visit holy sites around the world.

In India Hindus visit Varanassi a city on the holy river GANGES
Muslims make a HAJJ - a special religious journey to the holy city of MECCA in Saudi Arabia. They do this once in their lives
In Ireland people travel to KNOCK in the west of Ireland
Many Catholics travel to the holy shrine at LOURDES in France for a cure.

BUYING RELICS OR PARDONS

People in the Middle Ages would often spend large amounts of money to buy PARDONS or RELICS. Pardons could be bought from the church to 'forgive sins'

RELICS were holy items with some religious connection. Many churches claimed to have a real piece of the Cross or a part of Jesus' clothes.

These items would often cost a lot of money and many people would travel huge distances to see them.
One of the most famous relics in the world is the TURIN SHROUD. It is said to be from the death robes (shroud) of Jesus and seems to show his image.

Check out this weblink: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/4210369.stmweeblylink_new_window

MONKS AND NUNS

Often men and women in the Middle Ages would DEVOTE THEIR LIFE TO SERVING GOD by becoming a MONK or NUN.

Men became MONKS.
They Lived in MONASTERIES.
Their life was spent devoted to God with strict times to Pray, Eat, Worship and Work
The top of their head was shaved in a TONSURE to show their devotion.
They also wore a HABIT which was a plain robe
They were very important in their community. They would look after the sick and teach the poor.
They would also write the bibles - as there were no printing presses!!

a MONASTERY

A big Monastery - like at Greyabbey or Downpatrick

Monks would spend their day praying, eating plain food. gardening and growing vegetables, singing or chanting, writing beautiful copies of the Bible, may be even looking after the sick or teaching the poor.

NUNS

Women lived separately from men in CONVENTS.

They dedicated their lives to God and would carry out many of the same duties as the men.

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