The Inquisition: Dual Authority and Misconceptions

This chapter explores the complex relationship between civil authority and the Church, particularly focusing on blasphemy laws and the Inquisition's role in capital punishment. It highlights the historical misconceptions about the Church's influence on state matters, arguing that harsher penalties were largely the responsibility of secular authorities. The discussion further analyzes the procedural safeguards of the Inquisition, its actual intentions, and critiques prevalent negative perceptions surrounding its practices.