Why did Medieval Christians fear excommunication?

Answer 1

During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the supreme political and religious power in Europe. Even though it was sometimes invaded and had its lands annexed, the Church still had immense influence over the people of most European nations and thus rulers were ever cautious in how they appeared vis-a-vis the Church. To this end, the Church exercised excommunication as a last resort in spiritual and political conflicts. Excommunications were extremely powerful since they basically alienated the excommunicated person from all of society, which was basically Christian. As a result, the excommunicated person was often quick to repent. People were excommunicated for: * Apostasy * Heresy * Assault of a Church official * Attack on Church territories * An attack on another Christen monarch or land * Failure to enforce or recognize a papal mandate * Withholding Church funds * Convening a Church Council without papal approval * Ordination of a bishop without papal mandate

There were other reasons, but these suffice as an example. Often wars were started or diverted by whom the Church supported. Drawing an excommunication upon oneself was to be avoided, especially by rulers, since Christians were not obliged to follow an excommunicated sovereign and thus, if intransigent, a ruler could lose their entire kingdom.

Answer 2

Christians believed that a person who died while excommunicated would not go to heaven.

Roman Catholic AnswerAn excommunicated person cannot receive the Sacraments, and in formal excommunication (vitandus - excommunicated by name) they are to be avoided. In a society that revolved around the Church, this would effectively cast you out of society.

The Church has never believed, much less taught that she had the power to condemn someone to hell, and excommunication was always with a view to reforming a person so that they could attain heaven. The Church is, and always has been, since the time of the Apostles, in the business of saving souls.

Answer 3

Then they wouldn't be able to go to heaven.