Catharism

Protests on Minor Issues

As the assemblies of Yahoshea Meshiyach inter-mixed with other heretic and heathen sects, its true face and mission could not be ascertained even by the efforts of most erudite revivalists or reformers.

Efforts to trace the original doctrines of the faith became humanly impossible. Many revivalists formulated some creeds from some of noticed errors of Catholic Church and made followers for such sake. Numerous errors of the Roman Church became objects of attack from the revivalists. But the true fact is that both the Roman Church and the revivalists to Yahoshea's laid path were holed by lack of adequate knowledge of the mission of Yahoshea.

Therefore, the revivalists or reformers go by gaze-work or speculations to spot the added errors of the church. All revivalists were imperfect of their findings and implementations because most of their works dealt with minor errors while adopting major errors as part of their faith. While the real pillars of Yahoshea's ministry are known and included usage of holy names, observation of Sabbath day rest and convocation of holy festivals, the revivalists ignored such important virtues or percepts and to focus on issues as adult baptism, circumcision, ecclesiastical appellations, separation from state, no oath taking etc.

None of the acclaimed   protestant reformers were capable of addressing the Hebrew–cultural values that were dominant factors of Yahoshea Meshiyach's assembly. Most of the revivalists were concerned with the reconstitution of the true assembly on an apostolic model but means and ways of achieving such desire were lacking. Although many of the revivalists risked their lives and those of their followers for daring Roman church on certain principles or practices but that does not assure that their works were in tune of apostolic model.

For example, Martin Luther, a frontline reformer of 16th century carried out the most recounted reformation in modern history, but out of his ninety-three points against the Roman church, he did not address any of the vital religious practices of Yahoshea and his followers. That is the agony of the acclaimed restorationalists and reformers and their works.

Though they tried in one way or the other to raise opposition against Roman paganism that is masqueraded as Roman Catholic Church but their efforts were not good enough to earn them the position of real workers of Yahweh in history.

Origin

One of such revivalist's sects that existed before the protestant reformation era was the Catherism.

Historic records bear that Catharism has its root from Paulician movement in Armenia. Bogonuls of Bulgaria  also took its influence from the Paulicians.

The term “Cathar” was drawn from Greek word “Katharol” meaning “The pure ones”. It is one of earlier pro-apostolic era movements that existed in some areas of Southern Europe with special concentration at Northern Italy and Southern France. It was a widely known movement between 12th and 14th century by its practices. It dismissed Catholic Church as the church of Satan.

Practices Of The Sect

Their doctrines resembled those of Bogomils, earlier Paulicians, Manechaens and Gnostics of the first few centuries.

The Cathari's existence may have run down to first few centuries AD as it is assumed to be mentioned in Cannon 8 of the first Ecumenical council of Nicaea in 325 AD which states – “If those called Cathars come over (to the faith), let them make confession that they are willing to communicate with the twice married and to grant pardon to the people who have lapsed”.

During 8th century, St. John of Damascus in his book made note of a sect called Cathari which he wrote of as such – “They absolutely reject those who marry a second time and reject the penance (that is forgiveness of sins after baptism)”.

The Catharism flourished or re-appeared in religious history in 1143 when the group became exposed to public by its activities at Cologne as led by Cleric Eberwin of Steinfield.

They challenged Catholic order over making erroneous doctrines and had to face the wrath of the church which rooted them out of existence through instrument of inquisition of the 14th century.

Catharis opposed what it perceived to be moral, spiritual and political corruption of the church. It equally rejected the Catholic sacrament of Eucharist saying that it could not possibly be the body of Yahoshea. They condemned war and capital punishment as effected by the church, rejected the doctrine of Trinity, rejected any form of oath-taking etc. The Catharists  developed a set of doctrines and created a bishopric throne at Albi in 1165 and later at Toulouse.

Persecuted By The Church Of Rome

The Church of Rome developed hatred over the sect as it saw its activities as threat to its existence. When Pope Innocent III came into power, he decided to deal with the sect. Firstly, he sent some pacifist preachers to convert Catharists but such did not yield positive result.

When all pacifists attempt of the Pope to sink the Catharists failed, he convoked the Fourth Council of Lateran with an agenda on how to treat Catharist (Albigenses) squarely.

The church inquisition was established in 1243 to uproot the remaining Catharists who have survived various assaults or wars from Roman Catholic crusaders.

The massacre of Catharists or popularly known as “Albigenes Crusades” was carried out at Toulouse, Albi (Albigense), Carcassone and other towns during the whole of 13th century and great part of 14th century. This operation succeeded in crushing Catharism as a popular movement and sending its faithful underground. Cathars who refused to recant were hanged or burnt at the stake.

After suppression of Catharism, the members that survived returned to Catholic Church though they retained certain Cathar identity.

During reformation era, many revivalists of apostolic faith claimed the descendancy of Cathar. Truthfully, Cathari made attempts as  a restorationist sect to early apostolic ministry but  as the apostolic era faced stiff opposition from the Roman Empire that resulted to its distraction, so the same Roman kingdom through their Catholic order scattered the intension of the Cathar to restore the apostolic faith.