Jeanne Darc
So for my medieval history class, we're supposed to do a mock trial deciding the fate of Joan of Arc. Since it is a history class, we are expected to use the arguments of the time. There's just one problem with this; those arguments are complete crap.
Basically it goes like this:
Defense: Joan of Arc is a messenger from god. She hears the voices of people who have been dead for years, which of course means that she isn't crazy.
Prosecution: Joan of Arc is a sorceress who uses her magic to beguile the citizens of France and trick them into committing acts of violence. Also, she goes against god, which is totally not cool. Lets kill her.
Luckily, I have been chosen to represent the only sane witness, Philip Duke of Burgundy. Albeit this witness was incredibly corrupt and greedy. But he at least made sense.
The strangest lesson I have taken away from this is that I think Joan of Arc was technically guilty.
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Comments
Well, the story of Joan of
Well, the story of Joan of Arc is really less about religion than it is about politics, as was often the case at that time. Whenever you have a church whose authority also governs the state, it gives the people in power a convenient way to justify any sort of behavior, and to rid themselves of anyone who represents a threat to them. Joan of Arc was a case where both sides were using God for their own secular purposes. Both her trial and execution, and then her later canonization were completely political. The Pope might argue differently, but I think history is on my side here. ;)
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- Pat Nelson Childs
"bringing strong gay & lesbian characters to Sci-Fi & Fantasy"
I know...
... but the thing about the trial was that it was carried out by the church, which, as you mentioned, didn't want to seem like they where being political. I think the entire reason that they chose the church was to avoid outrage; Joan was a prominent figure, and any government that executed her would be extremely unpopular in France. The church was the only viable option because people where so loyal to it.
So instead of being honest and saying that getting rid of her would end conflict, they just said she was a heretic. The thing is, in this trial, we are being taught that their reasoning was due to the fact that she was a witch/heretic. Essentially, we're being taught a lie.
I agree. It's a total lie.
I agree. It's a total lie. Joan of Arc's story has even less to do with religion and heresy than other famous heretics like Galileo. Both her heresy and her sainthood were concocted for totally secular political reasons. That's the history lesson that should be taught about it. I hope you're not the only one in that class who's using their brain.
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- Pat Nelson Childs
"bringing strong gay & lesbian characters to Sci-Fi & Fantasy"