Power & Purity

Book Description

In the medieval towns of southern France and Italy, a radical spiritual movement flourished that challenged everything conventional society held sacred. The Cathars believed that human existence itself was a cosmic tragedy, with divine souls imprisoned in physical bodies by dark forces. Their path to liberation required complete rejection of the material world, including marriage, childbirth, and even the sacraments of the established church.

Carol Lansing takes readers deep into the heart of this extraordinary religious phenomenon through the lens of Orvieto, a medieval Italian town where Catharism took root and thrived. Drawing from extensive archival research, she reveals how this seemingly austere faith attracted devoted followers across social boundaries and became intertwined with the political and social transformations of thirteenth-century life.

This exploration goes beyond religious doctrine to examine the human dynamics of spiritual seeking in a time of change. Lansing demonstrates how the eventual persecution of the Cathars reflected broader shifts in authority and power, while also uncovering evidence of remarkable religious tolerance among ordinary people.

For those interested in understanding how alternative spiritual movements emerge and evolve within established societies, this scholarly investigation offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between personal faith, community identity, and institutional control. The book illuminates both the appeal of radical spiritual paths and the forces that ultimately shape their destiny.