Editing Medieval Inquisition (section)

====Cathars====
The [[Catharism|Cathars]] were a group of dissidents mostly in the South of France, in cities like [[Toulouse]]. The sect developed in the 12th century,{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|p=5}} apparently founded by soldiers from the [[Second Crusade]], who, on their way back, were converted by a Bulgarian sect, the [[Bogomils]].

The Cathars' main heresy was their belief in dualism:<ref name=medieval>{{Cite web |url=http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/medieval/francis/inquisition.htm |title="Medieval Inquisition", Univ. of St. Thomas |access-date=2013-06-24 |archive-date=2013-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602042126/http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/medieval/francis/inquisition.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> the evil God created the materialistic world and the good God created the spiritual world. Therefore, Cathars preached poverty, chastity, modesty and all those values which in their view helped people to detach themselves from [[Economic materialism|materialism]]. The Cathars presented a problem to feudal government by their attitude towards oaths, which they declared under no circumstances allowable.<ref name="blotzer">{{Cite web|title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Inquisition|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm|access-date=2020-06-23|website=www.newadvent.org|archive-date=2019-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507115121/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Therefore, considering the religious homogeneity of that age, heresy was an attack against social and political order, besides orthodoxy.<ref name=idis>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alleanzacattolica.org/idis_dpf/english/i_medieval_inquisition.htm |title=Pappalardo, Francesco. "Medieval Inquisition", Istituto per la Dottrina e l'Informazione Sociale |access-date=2013-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211075814/http://www.alleanzacattolica.org/idis_dpf/english/i_medieval_inquisition.htm |archive-date=2013-12-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Albigensian Crusade]] resulted in the defeat of the Cathars militarily. After this, the Inquisition played an important role in finally destroying Catharism during the 13th and much of the 14th centuries.{{sfn|Sumption|1978|pp=230–232}} Punishments for Cathars varied greatly. Most frequently, they were made to wear yellow crosses atop their garments as a sign of outward penance. Others undertook obligatory pilgrimages, many for the purpose of fighting against [[Muslim]]s. Another common punishment, including for returned pilgrims, was visiting a local church naked once each month to be scourged. Cathars who were slow to repent suffered imprisonment and, often, the loss of property. Others who altogether refused to repent were burned.{{sfn|Costen|1997|p=173}}