Catharisme

Catharism was a medieval Christian religious movement, prominent in 12th-13th century Europe, especially in southern France. It promoted dualism, the belief that the material world was created by a lesser, evil deity, contrasting with the spiritual realm of light and goodness. Cathars rejected the authority and practices of the Catholic Church, advocating for a purer, simpler faith. They emphasized individual spiritual knowledge, moral purity, and asceticism. Due to their beliefs, they were considered heretical by the Catholic Church, which led to widespread persecution, including the Albigensian Crusade, aimed at eradicating their movement.