The Importance of the Medieval Church

                                

      Constantine's conversion in 312 A.D. brought a dramatic change to Roman society.  Though Constantine made Rome tolerate Christianity, the Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire circa. 378 A.D.  Going from persecuted, to accepted, to authoritative, the Church experienced a rapid change over such a brief period of time.
      After gaining so much power in the Roman Empire, the Roman Catholic Church became the central governing body after the collapse of the Roman Empire in 410 A.D.  The collapse of the Roman Empire ushered in a time known as the Middle Ages, or the Medieval Period.  During this time, the Catholic Church was the most important source of spirituality throughout Europe.  The Catholic Church ruled in manners of spirituality and daily life.  Even though kings arose, the Medieval Period found itself in the hands of the Roman Catholic Church. 
      During the Middle Ages, spanning from 410-1400 A.D., the importance of the Catholic Church was great.  Though some believe that the Catholic Church stifled society and its progress during the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church made some great developments in Society.  Monasteries helped the sick and the poor as best as they could.  Many monks were copyists who reprinted great works from Antiquity.  In the Renaissance, these copies provided a way to go back to the classics.  Because of the monks work, these classics are available today. 
      In the eleventh and thirteenth century, faith became reasonable.  No longer would someone need to blindly accept what the Scriptures said.  Two great men of the High Middle Ages developed this change within the Church.  Anselm of Canterbury and Thomas Aquinas developed a method of study and use of logic called Scholasticism.  This method focused on the ability of people to develop logical and reasonable claims about the the Christian faith and its doctrines.  The components of this method include: posing a question, outlining the opposing sides of the topic, and making a decision based upon reason.  Reconciling faith and reason was the main purpose of this method. 
      Another important development that came through the Church in the Middle Ages was the founding of universities.  As mentioned earlier, Monasteries provided learning opportunities for children and those eager to learn.  By the tenth century, cathedrals became centers of learning where non-monastic clergy.  The cathedral schools mainly taught young men who meant to become clergy.  However, as these schools expanded, the cathedral schools became places of learning the classical liberal arts.  (1)
      Out of the cathedral schools evolved universities.  The university's purpose was to educate their students with the classical liberal arts including: reading, writing, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy, and music.  Universities equipped their students to carry professions in Law, Theology, or Medicine. 
      The Church's impact on the Medieval society was incredible.  Though the Catholic Church made some negative effects, the Church also made some great advancements.  During the Middle Ages, the Church brought learning back into the picture.  This learning followed after the classical approach of the Greeks and Romans.  Great men of the faith, Anselm and Aquinas, championed theology in making faith reasonable.  Today, universities follow a similar approach to learning as the Church provided in the High Middle Ages.  In the Middle Ages, the Church reigned and made an indelible mark on history. 
      For theology, the Medieval Church shines its importance on making faith reasonable.  Looking back through history, one sees the developments in theology.  These developments give insight into where the theology of today comes from.  Men like Anselm and Aquinas changed the way people viewed faith.  Having an understanding of their impact on the Medieval Church gives a better understanding of how they affect contemporary theology and how theologians can answer questions concerning faith and doctrine.







Sources:
(1)  Jackson J. Spielvogel. Western Civilization, Volume A: To 1500. (Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2009).