Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards facts for kids

The Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards is an old English religious paper. It was written in 1395 by leaders of a group called the Lollards. These Lollards were inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe. The paper was given to the Parliament of England and was even nailed to the doors of Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. This was a common way to share news back then. The paper also mentioned a longer document called Thirty-Seven Conclusions for anyone who wanted to learn more.

Ideas for Change

This paper lists twelve main areas where the Lollards believed the Christian Church in England needed to change.

Church and Power

The first idea was that the English Church had become too involved in politics and government. The Lollards felt this was a bad example, especially from the Church in Rome. They believed the Church should focus on spiritual matters, not worldly power.

Priests and Their Roles

The second idea said that the special ceremonies used to make priests and bishops (called ordination) were not found in the Bible. The Lollards thought these ceremonies were not needed. They believed the way priests were chosen should be simpler.

Communion Bread

The fourth idea talked about the belief that the communion bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ. This belief is called transubstantiation. The Lollards thought this idea led people to worship the bread itself, which they saw as worshipping an everyday object.

Special Blessings

The fifth idea said that the special prayers and blessings (like exorcisms or hallowings) done by priests were like witchcraft. The Lollards believed these practices did not fit with Christian teachings. They thought such rituals were not truly spiritual.

Church Leaders in Government

The sixth idea was that it was wrong for important Church leaders to also hold powerful government jobs. The Lollards believed that people in high Church positions should not also be involved in politics. They felt this mixed up religious and worldly duties too much.

Prayers for the Dead

The seventh idea concerned prayers for specific dead people. The Lollards thought this was unfair because it left out other good people who had died. They also believed that giving money to the Church to pray for the dead (called indulgences) was a type of bribe. They felt this practice corrupted the Church.

Pilgrimages and Relics

The eighth idea was about going on pilgrimages and worshipping relics (like bones or items from saints). The Lollards thought these practices did little for a person's faith. At worst, they believed it was like worshipping objects instead of God.

Confession to Priests

The ninth idea said that confessing sins to a priest to be forgiven was wrong. The Lollards believed that only God could forgive sins. They also thought that if priests truly had this power, it would be cruel for them to ever refuse forgiveness to anyone.

War and Crusades

The tenth idea stated that Christians should not fight in wars. They especially thought that wars fought for religious reasons, like crusades, were wrong. This was because Christ taught people to love and forgive their enemies.

Art and Simple Living

The twelfth idea suggested that Christians were spending too much time and effort making beautiful art and crafts. The Lollards believed people should live simpler lives. They felt people should focus more on being godly and avoid unnecessary activities.

More Information

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