Why was the Inquisition started?

Answer 1

As Spain was reconquered from the Muslims, both they and the Jewish population were put under very great pressure to become Christians. If fact, they were viciously persecuted if they didn't. Gradually the secular and church authorities in Spain became obsessed with the notion that there were large numbers of 'false converts' secretly practising their old religion. Originally, the purpose of the Spanish Inquisition was to root out 'false converts', especially from Judaism. Later, the Spanish Inquisition also turned its attention to heresy, challenging the authority of the Catholic Church and disrespect for the Inquisition itself. Some historians regard the Inquisition as a vast terror machine ... By c.1600 about 20% of cases tried by the Inquisition were for alleged offences against the Inquisition! It was almost unknown for anyone who came before the Inquisition to be acquitted. The best one could hope for was that the case would be suspended.

Answer 2

The inquisition was created through papal bull, Ad Abolendam, issued at the end of the 12th century by Pope Lucius III as a way to combat the Albigensian heresy in southern France. There were a huge number of tribunals of the Papal Inquisition in various European kingdoms during the Middle Ages. In the Kingdom of Aragon, a tribunal of the Papal Inquisition was established by the statute of Excommunicamus of Pope Gregory IX, in 1232, during the era of the Albigensian heresy. Its principal representative was Raimundo de Peñafort. With time, its importance was diluted, and, by the middle of the 15th century, it was almost forgotten although still there according to the law.

There was never a tribunal of the Papal Inquisition in Castile. Members of the episcopate were charged with surveillance of the faithful and punishment of transgressors. During the Middle Ages, in Castile, little attention was paid to heresy by the Catholic ruling class. Jews and Muslims were tolerated and generally allowed to follow their traditional laws and customs in domestic matters. However, by law, they were considered inferior to Catholics and were subject to discriminatory legislation (just as Catholics had earlier been discriminated against under Moorish law when the Moors ruled Spain).

Answer 3

The inquisition was started by the Roman Catholic Church to fight against heretics and persecute heresy against teachings of the Church. It started in 12th-century France and was later expanded to other European countries.

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Catholic AnswerAs mentioned above, the Inquisition was started to fight against heretics and persecute heresy, there were three major Inquisitions, starting in 12 century France against the Cathars. All three Inquisitions were mainly run by the local governments, they were not primarily against heresy as they were against people who were against the local government. In all three cases, those who were working against the government were cloaking their activities under cover of the Church, so the Inquisition used that as their tool to uncover un-patriotic activity. For most of the centuries before the protestant revolt the government was Catholic and the traitors were not, medieval society was an entirely different creature than modern society and not well understood by people raised and educated since the "Enlightenment".

Answer 4

It was created to keep Catholics within the church

Answer 5

To convert all non-Christian Spaniards