Definitions of Heresy and the Descriptions of the Trial of Margery Kempe - Essay Example

Topic: Definitions of Heresy and the s of the Trial of Margery Kempe The book “The Trials of Margery Kempe” is an illustration of the experience of a woman who shares a unique faith that is similar to the common belief in the scriptures but differs in terms of manner of worship. As a result, she is arrested on several accounts with the Church of heresy but the Archbishop of York intervenes to help her. She is a humble and respectful woman to the authorities and adamant in holding onto her beliefs. This makes her be at odds with most of the public members as some of them even want her burnt on account of heresy. Unfortunately, even after convincing the Archbishop to write her a letter that sets her free from her enemies, her opponents still find a way to make sure the letter does not reach her. In the end, she continues her journey being arrested and set free from time to time. The story is an expression of believes during medieval times and how the scriptures were used to control the public. Definitions of Heresy and the Descriptions of the Trial of Margery Kempe There are several definitions attached to heresy. The current definition of heresy refers to a belief that defers from the commonly accepted faith or opinion. However, in medieval times, heresy was viewed as not just an error but also a persistent resistance of the teachings of the Church. The Bishop of London also defined heresy as an opinion chosen by the human perception contrary to Holy Scripture, publicly avowed and obstinately defended. Based on these definitions, there is a chance that Margery Kempe was rightfully charged with heresy, but on theater hand, the definitions of heresy could also exempt her from the charges of being a heretic. During the time during which Margery was practicing her belief, she was at odds with the common belief of the general public. Margery was a woman who in one way or another tried to spread her beliefs to others. This could be counted as preaching which was against the teachings of Paul for a woman to preach to the people. The definition of a heretic includes having deviant faith from the commonly accepted scriptures which Margery was guilty of. She wore all white and claimed to have visions of Christ and Mary that seemed unreal from the scriptures. She could not have been the maid of Mary. Her beliefs were a risk as they would bring discourse should the people have started believing in her faith. It is for this reason that the Archbishop of York did not want her to be escorted by a younger man. He was willing to pay five shillings to an older man to escort her instead because his faith in the common scripture would already be established and tougher to sway (Clark 2007). The definition also includes that the error is ascertained when the individual believing in deviant faith refuses to renounce this faith. Margery refused to denounce her belief before the priest and before the Arch bishop. For this reason, many people were against her and wanted her burnt as they believed that she as committing heresy. It is proved from the definition that an aspect of her faith led her to commit heresy. Despite knowing the scriptures, she did not follow them to the letter which led her to be arrested in several accounts for instance in York. She had different ideologies bout the scriptures and what was expected of the human beings from Christ. The trips that Margery made were in the name of spreading her faith to others which was therefore an act of preaching. She was trying to get more people to share in her faith about the scriptures which was a crime in itself as she was a woman hence forbidden to preach by the very scriptures (Kempe 2006). On the other hand, it could be factual that Margery was not preaching her faith but as she said in her defense, she was simply using communication and good words while interacting with others. Despite being shunned by many, Margery still in a way shared the same faith as required by the Scriptures. This is because she followed the teachings of Christ and practiced just as He did. She also prayed to the very same God that they believed in and understood the scriptures. When asked to swear before the Arch bishop of York that she would not influence her faith on his men, Margery refused to swear as it was wrong by the scriptures (Clark 2007). Margery was keen on emulating Christ and was respectful to those in power. These were no characteristics of a heretic and therefore she could not be proved a heretic. There was no substantial evidence about her activities of heresy and when asked to do something that did not go by her beliefs in the scriptures, she politely declined and wisely supported her actions. She was courageous and adamant in ensuring that her faith was not mistaken for heresy and that she intended no harm. This was one of the things that made the Archbishop find no fault with her. She was even able to convince him to write her a letter that would enable her be free from her enemies. Margery was innocent and what was feared most of her was not that she was a heretic. The people only feared that she was a woman whose faith would lead to many changing their faith in the common way that the public was used to and taking up her beliefs about the scriptures (Kempe 2006). In conclusion, Margery could have been wrongly charged and executed but she somehow always managed to prove her evidence and walk scot free. Her wisdom and strong faith in her course could be part of the reason as to why she was able to evade burning by those who thought her a heretic and demanded that she be executed. She was a determined woman and despite her arrests she did not change her beliefs just so as to please the world and those in power. She was not afraid to take a stand despite knowing very well that it would have led to her death. This makes the line between Margery committing heresy and her being innocent of heresy very thin. The manner in which she defended herself makes her arguments gain more weight than the definition of heresy. References Clark, K. (2007). Purgatory, punishment, and the discourse of holy widowhood in the high and later middle ages. Journal of the History of Sexuality, 16(2), 169-203. Kempe, M. (2006). The Book of Margery Kempe. DS Brewer. Read More