Medieval Heresy: Popular Movements from the Gregorian Reform to the Reformation [Paperback]

Malcolm Lambert (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0631222766 | ISBN-13: 978-0631222767 | Publication Date: September 9, 2002 | Edition: 3

For the third edition, this comprehensive history of the great heretical movements of the Middle Ages has been updated to take account of recent research in the field.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A masterpiece of learning, thought, and insight. No serious student of the Middle Ages will fail to read and indeed reread this seminal work. I regard it as one of the finest and most important books on medieval history ever written." Norman F. Cantor, New York University

"A remarkably thorough and instructive synthesis of much modern work which will be especially welcome." Annual Bulletin of Historical Literature --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

The third edition of this comprehensive History of the great heretical movements of the Middle Ages assesses a new mood of skepticism among historians about the accuracy of accusations of heresy in the eleventh and twelfth Centuries. It gives fresh insight into the inquisitional process, and the rise and fall of Catharism, and offers a new account of the moving dialogue between Bishop Fournier and the Waldensian Deacon, Raymond de Sainte Foy, and of research on urban Waldensianism. In addition, the author surveys the continuing flow of work on English Lollardy. These revisions enable both those who are familiar with the book and new readers to stay in touch with the most recent research on heretical movements.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 504 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 3 edition (September 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631222766
• ISBN-13: 978-0631222767
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Readable Overview of Heretical Theology, November 16, 2001

By 

Lisa J. Steele (Bolton, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medieval Heresy (Paperback)

Lambert's _Medieval Heresy_ provides a surprisingly readable overview of the major European heretical movements of the Middle Ages. Readers interested in Church history and the development of Catholic and Protestant theology will find useful insights. Historical heresies also have a surprising resonance with modern charismatic cults.
To cover the vast array of major heretical movements over several centuries, the book assumes a basic grounding in medieval history and culture. It is readable without such a grounding, but may be more confusing.
A short glossary of heretics is provided. A timeline of major events would have been useful.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book to Have, November 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Medieval Heresy: Popular Movements from the Gregorian Reform to the Reformation (Paperback)

Lambert's book manages to cover a large amount of history in readable and helpful manner. It is a great introduction into the heresies of the medieval period.

This is really an introductory work - one comes to know the major heresies about at the time, as well as how the Church attempted to deal with the situation and how the secular governments reacted. For those of us trying to get a start into the field, this book is most helpful. Not only does it give you an overview of the topic, but the amount of citation is extremely useful for further study. The short glossary is also helpful in keeping straight the various groups being mentioned.

Another benefit of this work is how it manages to avoid falling into an unfortunately typical problem - the genuflecting to heresy. While some historians tend to fall into seeing the heretics as wonderful, creative, populist bodies cruelly put down by the oppressive, corrupt, arrogant, mean, etc., etc. Church, Lambert thankfully takes a much more distanced and objective look at the matter. He relates who, what, when, where, and offers some discussion on why, without falling into the worship of the "wretched of the earth."

If there would be any critique, it would be the lack of a time table to keep the various groups organized in time (for the benefit of the reader). But, it doesn't really warrant a star marked off (oh, if only one could put in four and a half stars). This work is readable and easily accessable. Anyone interested in this topic or time period should pick this book up, whether academic or interested layperson. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new under the sun, June 1, 2009

By 

Stratiotes Doxha Theon "2 Thes 2:15" (Richmond, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Medieval Heresy: Popular Movements from the Gregorian Reform to the Reformation (Paperback)

Dr. Lambert has provided a wonderful historical summary of heretical movements just prior to the reformation period. In addition, he describes which of those movements survived to be engulfed by the wave of the reformation heresies that followed them. Beginning with the 12th century early Cathar and Waldensian movements, he describes how those movements developed over time and how the Church reacted at different times to their spread. He also provides some insight into the possible connection with earlier Bogomil heresies from the Eastern church. Without being obvious, Dr. Lambert also points out the similarities with earlier cults such as the anti-clericalism of the Donatists that fed into the reformation as well.

Other movements that attract Dr. Lambert's attention are the spiritual Franciscans and Joachimites where an obsession with last days predictions seems a forerunner of today's dispensationalist heresies. Dr. Lambert also details the spread of Lollardism from Wyclif's influence and the rise of Jan Huss and the subsequent Bohemian wars. Interesting is how quickly each of these movements shattered into smaller spinoff groups as is so common with schismatic movements. It seems that once they leave the protection of Church authority, there is no limit to their divisions and fanatical schism over varied interpretations of scripture.

Finally Dr. Lambert explores the possible connection of these heresies with Luther and Calvin. They seem few though there are many similarities in doctrine. But those similarities seem to have fed the reformation movement to the point that the reformation traditions finally engulfed and eliminated the memory of those earlier heresies. All the while we are reminded that, in the area of heresy, there is truly nothing new under the sun. Whether they be an obsession of end times madness or extremism in clerical demands that leads to Donatists challenges, they are really no different from the first century heresies that attempted to drag the Church into obscurity and schism.

A well researched and interesting read. A few more details on doctrines that marked the movements would have been interesting as well but overall it is a thorough and enjoyable study. Well worth the time and a relatively easy though studious read.