Interesting piece on society & Church during #Black_Death !
Today, science is more developed than medieval Europe. When Great Pestilence took hold, physicians couldn't explain little.
And, they believed that it was Punishment from God, but for what ???
@DimpleAtra
@shri_v

Thousands of JEWS were killed for heresy. Beggars & Lepers were accused of uncleanliness & banished from communities. Most Theologians put the burden on LUST.
Thomas Brinton, Bishop of Rochester, 1373 wrote in a sermon, "today corruption of lechery... & sodomites... ".

Another one, #Bernadino of Seina, 1380-1444, an Italian & Franciscan wrote lengthy sermons on how "God sends pestilence for sodomy "
He even blamed Sodomites for just about everything, including Storms & War. Led to persecution of Gay men in Florence.
@SurajPrSingh
@PhasistB

15 years old Giovanni was its youngest victim. In 1365, he was found to be "a public & notorious passive sodomite" & sentenced to brutal & barbaric Death.

It wasn't just homosexuality, the cast its net really wide. 1348, William of Eddington, Bishop of Winchester wrote that, " most likely explanation " was "human sensuality, fire which blazed from Adam's Sin... " provoking Divine anger to revenge

Others believed loose morals & revealing clothes responsible.
After 2nd outbreak in 1326, John of Reading, monk at Westminster Abbey wrote " and no wonder, given the empty headedness of the English... ".

Contrast : Ayurveda knew #krimi, both drsta & adrsta (visible & invisible)

14th century Eulogium Historiarum author also believed Divine Retribution led to these pandemics. He says, " because people wantonly squander gifts of God in rage, pride, lechery & greed... Lord's vengeance will follow " !

Oh @Pontifex

to appease God & atone for sins. Fanatical religious group like the Shias in Islma arose in Europe. They walked from town to town, stripped to waist & whipping themselves in bloody frenzy & screaming for others to Repent. " lashed until blood flowed crowds wept, shouted Save Us"

Groups of 1000 marched half-naked whipped raw, moaning, praying. People watched, dipped their handkerchiefs in blood to save themselves.
Interestingly, this bizarre spectacle was erotic & actually helped spread the plague.

Despite efforts by to dissuade people from debauchery, it was impossible.
14 century Italian chronicler Agnolo di Tues writes, " no one could restrain himself from doing anyth " !

Lessons for today in yesterday's pandemic.
@virendrarathore
@prasannavishy

#Ranulf_Higden, a Benedictine monk despaired that "widows, as if degenerate & not restrained by any shame, took their husbands and foreigners, imbeciles & madmen" b

#MatteoVillani thought that plague will leave people pious & contrite but found the NATION rushed into LUST.

Things became such that in #Champfleur, France, 1393 a Papal official threatened to excommunicate anyone caught dancing, singing, partying or committing "unseemly acts" on the graves in cemetery.
Another myth was ' period of immense prosperity followed' !

Europe was devasted.

Last major outbreak was the Great Plague of London, 1665.
contd to preach sinful behaviour brought pestilence.
But, now people believed that if you had #Syphilis, you couldn't have Plague.
Thomas Dekker, "sex workers were unafraid coz of their French Amulets (syphilis sores)