The myth of the Spanish Inquisition

[demosincebirth]

Many Catholics squirm at the very mention of the Spanish Inquisition, oftentimes conceding to claims that it was the most brutal time in Church history. But was it really as brutal as it is often described?

If you have never seen the BBC documentary The Myth of the Spanish Inquisition, I highly recommend it. At a little over forty-five minutes, it summarizes the most recent scholarship about the "Black Legend," how it began, and why it persists.

Here are just a few of the more interesting points covered in the documentary:

http://www.catholic.com/blog/jon-sorensen/the-myth-of-the-spanish-inquisition

[Blue Owl]

1. I didn't expect this

[beemer27]

2. Thanks for posting this.

For some time people have known that the Spanish Inquisition was not as we were taught in school, not what Protestant preachers would have you believe. As the truth comes out slowly, some people will change their minds, but most enjoy believing how wicked those Catholics were. Facts will mean nothing to many people, and they will continue in their hatred and disdain for Catholicism.

[demosincebirth]

3. What you say is very true.

[IrishAyes]

4. Nobody really knows first hand what a real Inquisition is

until they move alone to a remote rural town and it turns out they're the only liberal around. I didn't expect it to be easy, but I'd counted on the local Catholic congregation being my home away from home. Not gonna happen. Not after a hateful woman stood up and denounced me during Mass and the priest, who the next Sunday as we were leaving, laughed and told me that my top was the ugliest garment he'd ever seen. I wore it again the next Sunday just to show him he couldn't get away with shaming my admittedly festive seasonal attire. But then I haven't gone back after that either.