Judging Faith, Punishing Sin
Inquisitions and Consistories in the Early Modern World

The first comparative analysis of Catholic inquisitions and Calvinist consistories in the great Christian age of reformation.

Charles H. Parker (Edited by), Gretchen Starr-LeBeau (Edited by)

9781316505861, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 June 2020

411 pages, 4 maps 2 tables
15 x 23 x 2 cm, 0.6 kg

Judging Faith, Punishing Sin breaks new ground by offering the first comparative treatment of Catholic inquisitions and Calvinist consistories, offering scholars a new framework for analysing religious reform and social discipline in the great Christian age of reformation. Global in scope, both institutions played critical roles in prosecuting deviance, implementing religious uniformity, and promoting moral discipline in the social upheaval of the Reformation. Rooted in local archives and addressing specific themes, the essays survey the state of scholarship and chart directions for future inquiry and, taken as a whole, demonstrate the unique convergence of penitential practice, legal innovation, church authority, and state power, and how these forces transformed Christianity. Bringing together leading scholars across four continents, this volume is an invaluable contribution to our understanding of religion in the early modern world. University students and scholars alike will appreciate its clear introduction to scholarly debates and cutting edge scholarship.

Introduction Charles H. Parker and Gretchen Starr-LeBeau
Part I. Institutional Contexts and Operations
Section 1. Local Contexts and Regional Variations: 1. Consistories Raymond A. Mentzer
2. Inquisitions Christopher F. Black
Section 2. Tribunals and Jurisdictions: 3. Consistories Margo Todd
4. Inquisitions Gretchen Starr-LeBeau and Kimberly Lynn
5. Consistories and civil authorities Sara Beam
6. Episcopal courts in Iberia, Italy, and Latin America Edward Behrend-Martínez
7. Church courts in England Martin Ingram
Section 3. Judges and Shepherds: 8. Consistories William Naphy
9. Inquisitions Kimberly Lynn
Section 4. Inquisition and Consistory Records: 10. Consistories Christian Grosse, translated by Charles Parker
11. Inquisitions Kim Siebenhüner, translated by Heidi Bek
Part II. Consistories and Inquisitions in Action
Section 5. Programs of Moral and Religious Reform: 12. Consistories Philippe Chareyre, translated by Charles H. Parker
13. Inquisitions Doris Moreno Martínez, translated by Gretchen Starr-LeBeau
Section 6. Victims as Actors: 14. Consistories Timothy Fehler
15. Inquisitions Lu Ann Homza
Section 7. Negotiating Penance: 16. Consistories Karen E. Spierling
17. Inquisitions John F. Chuchiak, IV
Section 8. Gender on Trial: Attitudes toward Femininity and Masculinity: 18. Consistories Jeffrey Watt
19. Inquisitions Allyson M. Poska
Part III. Ecclesiastical Discipline's Expanding Reach and Decline: Section 9. Disciplinary Institutions in the Atlantic World: 20. Consistories Mark Meuwese
21. Inquisitions Allyson Poska
Section 10. Disciplinary Institutions in an Asian Environment: 22. Consistories Hendrik E. Niemeijer
23. Inquisitions Bruno Feitler
Section 11. The Endgame: The Decline of Institutional Correction: 24. Consistories Jo Spaans
25. Inquisitions James E. Wadsworth
Conclusion. Reformations of penance and scholarly renascences William Monter
Index.

Subject Areas: Church history [HRCC2], History of religion [HRAX], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], European history [HBJD]