God's Jury by Cullen Murphy is not a mystery, but it is a fascenating look at the inquistion over time. The subtitle, The Inquisition and the Making of the Modern World, makes the reader think hard about the world we live in today versus that of a millenia ago. How different are we? Will man make it to the next level of enlightenment as a people? [It was pointed out to me today we have made advances in humanitarian areas. Sending aid in the form of money, medicines and food to areas of the globe where they are needed. Transportation is significantly better and faster these days!]
In General:
To start with there were three inquisitions. The first was in the 13th century; the second, the infamous Spanish Inquisition, in the 15th century; and finally, followed closely by the Roman Inquisition in the 16th centry. "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely," from The Price by Miachiavelli. There were approximately 2,000 people burned at the stake. Furthermore, the Black Death decimated 1/3 of Spain's population during the second inquisition. Enough death already??? I guess not.
The First Inquisition - The Cathars - Church Mandated - 13th Century:
The two interrogation and/or torture manuals were written in the 13th century and used throughout all three inquisitions. Some forms of torture outlined therein are still used today. Examples are cited in the text. Gui wrote, Conduct of the Inquisition Into Heretical Depravity and Eymerich wrote, Directorium Inquisitorium, which was more widely used. The former was referenced in Umberto Eco's book, In The Name of the Rose. This fact also made me think that man has still remained unchanged over this time.
In the 13th century, the world was becoming more modernized. There were universities in Paris and Bologna. New ideas were being spread by academics and permeating throughout society. This just so happened in the case of the Cathars of Southern France. They did not believe in the same tenents as the Roman Catholic Church at the time. Pope Innocent III issued the Albegensian Crusade in 1208 to 1229 to put an end to the Cathars and their divergent beliefs.
The Second Inquisition - The Spanish Inquisition - Secular - 15th Century:
Lasted 350 years, but started Feb 6, 1481 in Sevilla as the city was beset by plague. Conversos, people who converted from Judaism to Christianity (sometimes under duress), were persecuted for reverting back to Jewish ways. (Moors, referred to as Moriscos, who converted to Christianity were also persecuted for the same reasons.) At that time in history, Conversos held influential positions in the community in finance, government service and as professors. There were many Jews in Spain, estimated at 2% of Iberia's population who were well educated and wealthy. (Many other European countries expelled the Jews from their borders much earlier on. England in 1290 and France in 1306.)
The same type of torture techniques were used from the first inquisition. They relied on the same codes of cannon law too; but had better record keeping as time progressed. The statue of El Cid today stands on ground were Jews, Muslims and later Protestants were burned at the stake.
There were systematic book burnings and/or censorship going on during the Spanish Inquisition. Unlike earlier inquisitions, the objection was not only religious beliefs, but purity of blood. The state was the sponsor of this inquisition, versus the church for the others. Ferdinand and Isabella took the authority away from the church in a series of power plays. Pope Sixtus need Spain's support against the Turks in 1478 and relinquished the control of the inquisition to El Rey y La Reina. It seems religion and political power are intricately bound together...
The Spanish Inquisition is not complete without mention of Tomas de Torquemada the Inquisitor General of all Spain. He controlled the burnings, the censorship and the information flow at the time. Many people worked for the inquisition during this time. It is estimated that 1 in every 42 people supported the inquisition. This gave them relief from taxation and the ability to bear arms.
The Third Inquisition - The Roman Inquisition - Church Mandated - 16th Century:
The Roman inquisition started in 1542 under Pope Paul III. This inquisition is run by the church, not by the government. It is centralized and bureaucratic. The inquisitors answer to a committee of Cardinals overseen by an Inquisitor General with permanent offices in the Vatican complex.
There is an index of forbidden books as the Gutenburg Printing Press is in full production and books are being mass produced. It's about the flow of information. If the Vatican controls that they control everything. They are not the only source of ideas flowing out there. An archive is started at the Vatican to store the information. There are records now. There is an Inquisitors Palace. There are archives in Bologna and Modena, Naples and Venice.
I only read up through Chapter 4 in this book, but would recommend it highly. It is clearly written and easy to read. The later chapters go into a comparison of the inquisition to modern day events and journalism. I found the concept of information is king, especially to the Roman Catholic Church and/or related monarchies quite interesting. The Jews, Moors and Protestants challenged the RC Church and since the church had the information and the power they were able to persecute the people. Also, with all the plagues running around europe at that time, you would think enough death? Evidently not. Very interesting read.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Devil-Devil by Greame Kent
Mystery Mavens February 2012 selection... Set in the Solomon Islands as British control was waining in the 1960s, this book is fascenating and a good mystery rolled into one. Sargent Ben Kella is also an aofia, hereditary spiritual peacekeeper of the Lau people; and Sister Conchita, a young American nun team up to solve the mystery.
Yup, even in paradise there are murders. The story starts with death of Sendu Iabuli. Sargent Kella is sent into evaluate the situation. At the same time, the bones of Lofty Herman (tabu) are found near the the mission. Sister Conchita, also refered to as Praying Mary, attempts to bury the bones and Sargent Kella interviens. Then the adventure begins. They are chased around the island by someone with a gun. Shots are fired. Luckily our two intrepid characters survive another day.
We get some history about the Solomon Islands too. The Japanese invaded in 1942. That makes the date 1960. There are many remembrances of the war on the part of the characters throughout the book, as many of them fought against the Japanese during the war. [Parabosi, Deacon and Kella.] Parabosi also participated in the Marching Uprising after the war, when the locals in Malaita tried to over through the Brits. It was unsuccessful and Parabosi went into hiding in the bush with his people.
Peter Oro, Sendu Iabuli grandson, then runs away. He is in the local school and doing very well. Sargent Kella does not know what to make of this. Parabosi, the magic man, also places a curse on Sargent Kella. Parabosi is also the elderly chief of the bush people where Sendu Iabuli lived.
Sargent Kella then asks his friend John Deacon to transport Sister Conchita to Honoria for her safety. Since finding the bones of Herman, Sister Conchita's life is in danger. Deacon agrees but threatens Sister Conchita on the boat ride to Honoria. [In the early chapters of the book it is said that Sister Conchita turned Deacon in for smuggling local art work out of the islands. There is not a good relationship between these two characters.] Deacon works on a chopra plantation and has been in the islands since the war. Sister Conchita makes it to Honoria and works in the mission's motor pool while there.
While in the bush searching for clues to who was shooting at Sister Conchita, Sargent Kella stumbles accors Elizabeth. Interesting to see the character is human. The following morning, after his encounter with Elizabeth, Kella discovers Peter Oro's dead body at the foot of a water fall. His death looked carefully planned. And Elizabeth the school teacher, wasn't actually a school teacher. Funny how Inspector Lorrimer picks this time to show up with 6 uniformed and armed policeman. [He is looking for the missing Professor Mallory, last seen in the Kwaio district. Lorrimer is sent by Super Intendent Grice, as the theory is Parabosi kidnapped the Professor.]
Sargent Kella does some sluething and there is the incident with Mr. Cho, the local black market representative. And missed Gao, the store keeper who is sometimes in trouble with the law, going up river to buy/sell some goods. At this time Sargent Kella finds out that there is a dying man up river, Andu, the Ghost Caller. He must table his presuit of Gau to see Andu off into the next world in the straight path ceremony, as part of his duties as the aofia. Lastly, it is determined that Peter Oro discovered the tree house where the artifacts were being stored.
At this point Sargent Kella, Inspector Lorrimer and Super Interdent Grice tag back up again. They determine that Kella needs to look for Professor Mallory and that if he finds anything out about the death of Sendu Iabuli, it will be a bonus. When Kella goes back to Malaita he has limited time to do this all. He also has Hita and his warrior's who are challenging Parabosi as chief, sent by Parabosi, on his tail while he is tracking Professor Mallory.
Mallory is found with Elizabeth. Man, that girl gets around! Anyway, Mallory and Kella go up against the warrior's and win. Yeah! Kella determines that everyone was killed due to the smuggling of artifacts off of the islands. Sister Conchita helps Kella out at the Customs Office on the island, by finding the artifacts that were going to be shipped off-island. Lofty Herman's death is solved; Sendu Iabuli and Andu killed him back in 1942 since the Japanese would kill the natives if they were harbouring a white man.
Kella and Sister Conchita make a nice team. There is the right balence of mystery, local customs and history. I look foward to Kent's next book!
Other Themes to Talk About:
1.) Black White Man - Ben Kella
Went to schools with the whites and further educated in European University. Came back to the islands and works for the still British police force. But he is still the aofia and works with the local tribes as a peace keeper.
2a.) Sister Conchita turning in another white man for smuggling - goes agains the code of whites turning on whites. This is why Deacon, Austrilian, is anamistic toward Sister Conchita.
2b.) Sister Conchita - the blending of the Christian belief system with that of the Western Solomons. This is very hard for her to initially accept, but over time, with Sargent Kella's and Father Pierre help she is able to start the transition.
3.) Long Pig - the name given to human flesh in the bush
4.) WWII vs. today - things coming back around to haunt people
Yup, even in paradise there are murders. The story starts with death of Sendu Iabuli. Sargent Kella is sent into evaluate the situation. At the same time, the bones of Lofty Herman (tabu) are found near the the mission. Sister Conchita, also refered to as Praying Mary, attempts to bury the bones and Sargent Kella interviens. Then the adventure begins. They are chased around the island by someone with a gun. Shots are fired. Luckily our two intrepid characters survive another day.
We get some history about the Solomon Islands too. The Japanese invaded in 1942. That makes the date 1960. There are many remembrances of the war on the part of the characters throughout the book, as many of them fought against the Japanese during the war. [Parabosi, Deacon and Kella.] Parabosi also participated in the Marching Uprising after the war, when the locals in Malaita tried to over through the Brits. It was unsuccessful and Parabosi went into hiding in the bush with his people.
Peter Oro, Sendu Iabuli grandson, then runs away. He is in the local school and doing very well. Sargent Kella does not know what to make of this. Parabosi, the magic man, also places a curse on Sargent Kella. Parabosi is also the elderly chief of the bush people where Sendu Iabuli lived.
Sargent Kella then asks his friend John Deacon to transport Sister Conchita to Honoria for her safety. Since finding the bones of Herman, Sister Conchita's life is in danger. Deacon agrees but threatens Sister Conchita on the boat ride to Honoria. [In the early chapters of the book it is said that Sister Conchita turned Deacon in for smuggling local art work out of the islands. There is not a good relationship between these two characters.] Deacon works on a chopra plantation and has been in the islands since the war. Sister Conchita makes it to Honoria and works in the mission's motor pool while there.
While in the bush searching for clues to who was shooting at Sister Conchita, Sargent Kella stumbles accors Elizabeth. Interesting to see the character is human. The following morning, after his encounter with Elizabeth, Kella discovers Peter Oro's dead body at the foot of a water fall. His death looked carefully planned. And Elizabeth the school teacher, wasn't actually a school teacher. Funny how Inspector Lorrimer picks this time to show up with 6 uniformed and armed policeman. [He is looking for the missing Professor Mallory, last seen in the Kwaio district. Lorrimer is sent by Super Intendent Grice, as the theory is Parabosi kidnapped the Professor.]
Sargent Kella does some sluething and there is the incident with Mr. Cho, the local black market representative. And missed Gao, the store keeper who is sometimes in trouble with the law, going up river to buy/sell some goods. At this time Sargent Kella finds out that there is a dying man up river, Andu, the Ghost Caller. He must table his presuit of Gau to see Andu off into the next world in the straight path ceremony, as part of his duties as the aofia. Lastly, it is determined that Peter Oro discovered the tree house where the artifacts were being stored.
At this point Sargent Kella, Inspector Lorrimer and Super Interdent Grice tag back up again. They determine that Kella needs to look for Professor Mallory and that if he finds anything out about the death of Sendu Iabuli, it will be a bonus. When Kella goes back to Malaita he has limited time to do this all. He also has Hita and his warrior's who are challenging Parabosi as chief, sent by Parabosi, on his tail while he is tracking Professor Mallory.
Mallory is found with Elizabeth. Man, that girl gets around! Anyway, Mallory and Kella go up against the warrior's and win. Yeah! Kella determines that everyone was killed due to the smuggling of artifacts off of the islands. Sister Conchita helps Kella out at the Customs Office on the island, by finding the artifacts that were going to be shipped off-island. Lofty Herman's death is solved; Sendu Iabuli and Andu killed him back in 1942 since the Japanese would kill the natives if they were harbouring a white man.
Kella and Sister Conchita make a nice team. There is the right balence of mystery, local customs and history. I look foward to Kent's next book!
Other Themes to Talk About:
1.) Black White Man - Ben Kella
Went to schools with the whites and further educated in European University. Came back to the islands and works for the still British police force. But he is still the aofia and works with the local tribes as a peace keeper.
2a.) Sister Conchita turning in another white man for smuggling - goes agains the code of whites turning on whites. This is why Deacon, Austrilian, is anamistic toward Sister Conchita.
2b.) Sister Conchita - the blending of the Christian belief system with that of the Western Solomons. This is very hard for her to initially accept, but over time, with Sargent Kella's and Father Pierre help she is able to start the transition.
3.) Long Pig - the name given to human flesh in the bush
4.) WWII vs. today - things coming back around to haunt people