Medieval Religion and its Anxieties: History and Mystery in the Other Middle Ages (The New Middle Ages)

This book examines the broad varieties of religious belief, religious practices, and the influence of religion within medieval society. Religion in the Middle Ages was not monolithic. Medieval religion and the Latin Church are not synonymous. While theology and liturgy are important, an examination of animal trials, gargoyles, last judgments, various aspects of the medieval underworld, and the quest for salvation illuminate lesser known dimensions of religion in the Middle Ages. Several themes run throughout the book including visual culture, heresy and heretics, law and legal procedure, along with sexuality and an awareness of mentalities and anxieties. Although an expanse of 800 years has passed, the remains of those __other__ Middle Ages can be seen today, forcing us to reassess our evaluations of this alluring and often overlooked past. Religion In The Middle Ages Was Not Monolithic. Medieval Religion And The Latin Church Are Not Synonymous. While Theology And Liturgy Are Important, An Examination Of Animal Trials, Gargoyles, Last Judgments, Various Aspects Of The Medieval Underworld, And The Quest For Salvation Illuminate Lesser Known Dimensions Of Religion In The Middle Ages. Several Themes Run Throughout The Book Including Visual Culture, Heresy And Heretics, Law And Legal Procedure, Along With Sexuality And An Awareness Of Mentalities And Anxieties. The Feast Of The Ass: Medieval Faith, Fun, And Fear -- Prosecuting Animals As Criminals In Medieval Europe -- Piety, Perversion, And Serial Killing: The Strange Case Of Gilles De Rais -- Gargoyles And Glimpses Of Forgotten Worlds -- To Hell With The Theologians: Doctrines Of Damnation In Last Judgements In The Medieval Latin West -- Sensuality, Spirituality, And Sexuality In The Religious Experience Of Female Mystics -- Demonizing Dissenters: Patterns Of Propaganda And Persecution -- The Stripping And The Shaming Of Heretics -- Surviving The Middle Ages: The Extraordinary Pursuit Of Salvation -- The Fickle Hand Of Fate. Thomas A. Fudgé. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 269-285) And Index. Dedication 7 Preface 8 Notes 12 Contents 14 List of Figures 16 Chapter 1: The Feast of the Ass: Medieval Faith, Fun, and Fear 17 Notes 25 Chapter 2: Prosecuting Animals as Criminals in Medieval Europe 28 Notes 54 Chapter 3: Piety, Perversion, and Serial Killing: The Strange Case of Gilles de Rais 66 Notes 93 Chapter 4: Gargoyles and Glimpses of Forgotten Worlds 103 Distinctions and Definitions 105 Role and Significance 111 Meaning: Problems and Possibilities 113 Humans and Animals 116 Unholy Acts in Holy Places 119 Contradictions and Disorder 120 An Enduring Riddle? 121 Notes 124 Chapter 5: To Hell with the Theologians: Doctrines of Damnation in “Last Judgements” in the Medieval Latin West 132 Notes 159 Chapter 6: Sensuality, Spirituality, and Sexuality in the Religious Experience of Female Mystics 169 Notes 187 Chapter 7: Demonizing Dissenters: Patterns of Propaganda and Persecution 194 The Sources 198 Notes 209 Chapter 8: The Stripping and the Shaming of Heretics 214 Notes 232 Chapter 9: Surviving the Middle Ages: The Extraordinary Pursuit of Salvation 240 Notes 257 Chapter 10: The Fickle Hand of Fate 264 Notes 275 Bibliography 280 Index 297 Front Matter....Pages i-xvii The Feast of the Ass: Medieval Faith, Fun, and Fear....Pages 1-11 Prosecuting Animals as Criminals in Medieval Europe....Pages 13-50 Piety, Perversion, and Serial Killing: The Strange Case of Gilles de Rais....Pages 51-87 Gargoyles and Glimpses of Forgotten Worlds....Pages 89-117 To Hell with the Theologians: Doctrines of Damnation in “Last Judgements” in the Medieval Latin West....Pages 119-155 Sensuality, Spirituality, and Sexuality in the Religious Experience of Female Mystics....Pages 157-181 Demonizing Dissenters: Patterns of Propaganda and Persecution....Pages 183-202 The Stripping and the Shaming of Heretics....Pages 203-228 Surviving the Middle Ages: The Extraordinary Pursuit of Salvation....Pages 229-252 The Fickle Hand of Fate....Pages 253-268 Back Matter....Pages 269-300