need help with topic for a paper - something spiritual proly

**Seeuzin** · 20th April 2008, 07:12 PM

I'm writing my final paper for history class, and it can be on anything that went on in the high middle ages (1100 to 1400 or so.) I'd like to do something that has to do with astronomy, spirituality (non-christian preferably) or philosophy. I was thinking about Nicholas of Cusa, a cardinal who proposed the existance of life on other planets and in the sun. He seems like an interesting guy, but hard to understand and summarize, so I'm hoping to find a different topic. Anyone know of anything offhand? I'd be most grateful.

**CFTraveler** · 20th April 2008, 10:31 PM

I immediately thought of Lucrezia Borgia- she was interesting and there's a lot of rumor about her life. However, I'd read this one before the other stuff about her. http://www.dragonrest.net/histories/lucrezia.html

**ButterflyWoman** · 20th April 2008, 11:30 PM

The Cathars might fit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathars

They were Christian (you'll be hard pressed to find much in Western history that isn't Christian for the time period you're talking about), but they were distinctively Gnostic ones.

Another spiritual movement of some interest (and non-Christian, even!) is Chassidei Ashkenaz: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chassidei_Ashkenaz

Palehorse Redivivus · 21st April 2008, 12:27 AM

Do the Spanish Inquisition. No one will expect it.

(Sorry, I had to.)

If you want to get away from Christianity, Islam was in the middle of its golden age at that time, and there was a lot of interesting stuff going on there. They were making some important advances in math, science and various other fields, though if you're looking more towards spirituality you might look into Sufi mysticism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Golden_Age

**CFTraveler** · 21st April 2008, 02:19 PM

**Seeuzin** · 21st April 2008, 05:38 PM

Oh man, those all look really cool. I think I'll go with the Cathars. The idea of the Old Testament god as a "usurper-god" has always resonated with me. Their ideas also sound like Buddhism in some ways. I think I could really get into it and make it interesting.

Thank yall very much!