In Our Time Wyclif and the Lollards
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Jun 16, 2011 Medieval philosopher John Wyclif and the Lollards are discussed, highlighting their opposition to the Roman Church, English Bible translation, and disputes over Church teachings like transubstantiation. The podcast explores Wyclif's background, ties to John of Gaunt, radical preaching, the Blackfrize Council's impact, and the collaborative effort behind the Wyclif Bible and its consequences on the Lawlards movement and the Reformation period.
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Wycliffe's Philosophical Realism
- Wycliffe was unusual in being a realist in philosophy, opposing the common nominalist view of his time.
- He derived a form of communism from his belief that universals and communal things are more valuable than individual possessions.
Context of Wycliffe's Time
- Before Wycliffe, England had little organized heresy but lots of social and religious ferment questioning Church authority.
- The Avignon papacy and Black Death triggered challenges to Church and societal structures centered on questioning authority and wealth.
Wycliffe and John of Gaunt's Alliance
- John of Gaunt used Wycliffe to justify placing greater pressure on the English Church to support the war effort financially.
- Wycliffe theorized anti-clerical ideas aligning with Gaunt's political aim to exclude clerics from government roles.