Talk:Amalric of Bena

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The article says that because they didn't believe they could sin the Brethren of the Free Spirit 'indulged' in every excess. Is this the case or were they accused of doing this by the Church, just as the Cathars were (and couldn't have been less likely to have done). Like the Cathars, the Brethren are known only through their persecuters' words. Another Wikipedia article says the Brethren's doctrine was misinterpreted by the Church to accuse them of licentiousness (cf Heresy of the Free Spirit). Does anyone know more about this? ThePeg 17:28, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

According to the German Wikipedia and this article, we have to distinguish between the Amalricans who seemed to follow the words of Amalric directly but didn't act upon them (or not that much), and the Brethren of the Free Spirit, who were radicalised Amalricans who indeed indulged in excesses. As always, we have to assume that the Church exaggerated the accusations. -Bundesamt 13:20, 31 August 2007 (UTC)