Pre-Modern Faith: Manipulative Yet Necessary

Pre-Modern Faith: Manipulative yet Necessary

Religious belief has always been one of, if not, the major driving influence on the lives of the majority of the world’s people. Whether it be through the animistic belief system of all physical objects possessing a spirit, Shintoism and its millions of kami (spiritual entities), or Christianity and its one, all powerful God, the religious belief in these higher beings has been at the center of the human experience. However, during the time of the Middle Ages, there seemed to be a special precedence of religious practice that took place. The religious curtain at this time was woven together so flawlessly and with such heavy thread that it not only dictated and dominated the lives of most Western Europeans, it consumed them. Such a notion makes one wonder, how is it that such influence could possibly take hold of the lives of so many people?

Perhaps the most notable reason for this is the fact that during the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church had asserted itself as the dominant religious force to which there was neither substitute nor match. During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church held the “monopoly” on Western European faith and used the knowledge of the few to control the ignorance of the many. This use of pure exploitation in its most absolute and effective form enabled by the use of God as the basis to manipulate and drive the actions, thoughts, and feelings of people in order to obtain not only their belief and following, but their life long devotion, and ultimately their lives.

Ignorance of the masses, perhaps more than any other variable, gave the Catholic Church the whole of its power. Had reason and understanding been well established or considered as they were during the time of the Enlightenment, Catholic power would have merely been a fly on the windshield that is the Christian belief. However, because the Middle Ages directly followed the Dark Ages or the “Medieval Period,” this was not the case, as individuals still saw themselves as filthy, dirty creatures put on this Earth only to sin. The perfect creature to offer salvation to, in exchange for a lifetime of servitude. However, who could blame the Pope, the Cardinals, and the Catholic Church as a whole?

“`Yet God in His infinite and unknowable wisdom has singled us out, alone amongst all the villages in our shire, to receive this Plague. It is a trial for us, I am sure of it. Because of His great love for us, He is giving us here an opportunity that He offers to very few upon this Earth. Here, we poor souls of this village may emulate Our Blessed Lord. Who amongst us would not seize such a chance? Dear friends, I believe we must accept this gift. It is a casket of gold! Let us plunge in our hands to the elbows and carry away these riches!’” (Brooks, 100)

How is it that these people in Year of Wonders can believe that a devastating plague can be the work of a God that they worshipped so adoringly. Granted, the Christian faith is based largely off of the concept of trinity, destruction is order to renew, but during times of such panic and death, trinity is hardly a rational idea, even to the most devoted Catholic. This point made by Geraldine Brooks is only accenting the notion that religious influence was so strong during the Middle Ages, that it allowed people to turn away from the basic human instinct of common sense. Rather, religion during this time gave them the power and spirit to march onward, even if it was directly into face of death.

Although it may appear that the overwhelming power of the Church during Medieval times was a brute that siphoned the prosperity from its followers, it was very much the opposite in some cases. Religion brought people together and gave them a common belief, uniting them as a whole. Regardless of the method, humans are social creatures and will always look to form groups with others even in times of prosperity, and especially in times hardship. A large sum of the Church’s power is derived from this idea of prosperity and hardship. Catholic leaders