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Meeting began with acknowledgment of the land's historical significance populated by various Indigenous peoples, specifically mentioning the Musqueam people.

Focus on heresies that led to the Reformation, which were often politically sensitive.
The Reformation wasn't an isolated moment; tensions with church teachings have existed throughout history.
Discussion of original source materials on papal authority.

The Cathars, also known as Albigensians (named after the city of Albi), were a heretical group active in the 13th century.
They were dualists, believing in a distinction between a good creator god and a bad creator god, similar to Zoroastrianism.
- Viewed material world as created by a lesser evil god and sought salvation through the spirit.
Their baptismal rite, Consolatium, aimed to cleanse the spirit as close to death as possible for maximum chance of salvation.
Many of their beliefs are reported from opponents, as few records survive from the Cathars themselves.

In 1208, a crusade was declared against the Cathars, leading to their significant persecution.
The sack of Beziers involved a massacre where townspeople refused to surrender a list of 222 Cathars, resulting in the death of nearly 20,000.
Notably, the papal legate reportedly commanded to "kill them all; God will know his own."

R.I. Moore proposes that what was viewed as heresy might have been blown out of proportion by those in power seeking to suppress dissent.
The Cathars likely highlighted the authority challenge posed by their beliefs rather than doctrinal discrepancies with the medieval Catholic church.

The Waldensians emerged slightly before the Cathars, self-identifying as the 'poor of Christ'.
They emphasized poverty and living a Christ-like life, significantly challenging church authority by preaching in public without authorization.
The group, later led by Peter Waldo, differed from the Cathars in their permanence and were not as heavily persecuted.
Their views on several church doctrines, including purgatory and the intercession of saints, contrasted sharply with mainstream Catholic beliefs.

Erasmus was an important figure in the lead-up to the Protestant Reformation, championing a version of reform based on education and inner spirituality without leaving the Catholic Church.
Emphasized devotio moderna, which advocated direct personal connection with God.
Criticized scholasticism for its complexity and detachment from direct ethical living.
Engaged with Neoplatonism, although he ultimately preferred a more humanistic approach focused on the teachings of Christ found in the Bible.

The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg allowed for rapid dissemination of ideas, which contributed significantly to the spread of Reformation thought.
Erasmus used these advancements to promote his own theological concerns, particularly against clerical authority and for more personal and direct spirituality.

Erasmus acted from within Catholicism, advocating reform while aiming to avoid schism and violence.
He maintained correspondence with Luther, critiquing aspects of Protestant thought while still being perceived as a crucial figure in the build-up to the Reformation.
The tension between social power structures and ideals of spirituality was a central theme in the discussions surrounding the Reformation.