Language:
English
Year of publication:
1990
Titel der Quelle:
Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
20,2 (1990) 175-204
Keywords:
Jews
;
Judaism Relations
;
Christianity
;
Christianity and other religions Judaism
;
Inquisition
;
Jews
Abstract:
The Venetian Inquisition was established in 1547. In the period studied, 34 persons were tried for Judaizing (2.7% of all the cases tried). Analyzes the criteria used by the Inquisition to determine the religious identity of the persons accused of apostasy or Judaizing - i.e. what sorts of evidence convinced the judges that a man was or was not a Christian. Surprisingly, questions of faith were hardly ever raised. Examination of transcripts of trials shows that although circumcision and baptism were initial criteria, the Inquisitors placed more importance on the individual's everyday behavior in both religious and non-religious situations - e.g. personal contacts, dress, residence, church attendance, etc. Notes the view of both the city and the papacy that religious ambivalence was dangerous - thus, an important part of the Inquisition's business involved the level of definition. To a certain extent, the trials were an effort to clarify the boundaries between Christianity and Judaism. Brings examples of interrogation of several cases.
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