Marsilius Separation Of Religion

the appearance of the ruling in the name of religious doctrines like mercy, faithfulness integrity, and religion, because they have to act in the opposite manner when they are obliged to do so. The state or a political leader must always act contrary to the promise of maintaining charity, and religion in order to maintain their state. He views religion as an organization necessary for the preservation of public authority because religion instills the fear of God; a fear that keeps man disciplined and obedient and always in check.

He says “ these citizens were more afraid of breaking an oath than of breaking laws, since they respected the power of God more than that of man”. When citizens loose faith in their country no longer finding laws to

His famous book Defensor of Pads (published in 1324) was written to refute the claims of the Pope over the state.

This book was written 50 years after the death of Aquinas. Marsilius’s stand is quite different from that of St. Augustine or of Aquinas: He strongly emphasized the idea that the secular authority, that is, the state, should not interfere with the ecclesiastical affairs of the church and, on the other hand, the church should not have any business with the secular or political activities of the state. It is the primary duty of the church to give instructions to individuals so far as salvation is concerned.

Marsilius was also of the belief that the church had no rightful claim to any kind of immunity from or independence of secular authority. This undoubtedly implies that the authority of the church must remain under the authority of the king—which is secular in nature. It cannot claim any special status. In his opinion, the Church is simply an ordinary organization. He also denied any special status to the Pope. In this way Marsilius reduced the lofty position of the church. It must abide by the rules of the secular authority like other

Sabine says “His theory is a root and branch attack upon the ecclesiastical hierarchy and especially upon a papal doctrine but he recognized that, even for spiritual purposes and to resolve spiritual questions, the church requires some organization distinct from the civil community” Though Marsilio of Padua vehemently opposed the supremacy of the church over all secular affairs, it cannot be said that he affected a final divorce between the church and the state or he was in strong favor of secularization of