The Inquisition A Critical and Historical Study of the Coercive Power of the Church

"The Inquisition" by E. Vacandard is a deep exploration into the Church's use of force, offering a look at its beginnings, how it grew, and its moral questions, especially about heresy. The book starts by saying history needs to be looked at honestly, without ignoring the hard parts. Vacandard states the problem of studying the Inquisition fairly because it is full of disagreement and opinions while saying past writings were often not fair. The book is dedicated to answering what led the Church to act against heresy, from the start of Christianity to the Renaissance, and is a scholarly evaluation of the Inquisition's impact on religion and society.