The Church

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Between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries, the focus of the Church shifted from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Though the Old Testament was still the authoritative religious text, the view of God shifted from "Lord God of Hosts" to the loving God who sent his son to die for our sins. (The Medieval Church, 187). Until the High Middle Ages, Easter was the most important religious holiday, but with the increasing importance of Jesus' humanity, Christmas grew in importance.

Another big issue for Christianity was the change in socioeconomic structure. Towns became much bigger and the split between the upper and lower classes widened. People were becoming more literate. The challenges of catering to the need as all people was new to the Church in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The more literate were adopting some of the monastic practices into their own lives and carrying prayer books. The idea of giving up wealth to become a monk, or lead an apostolic life became a powerful force.

Education changed greatly within the culture of the High Middle Ages as well. Where monasteries had provided education for both the lay people and those devoted to the Church, it no longer would, thus forcing those who did not wish to give their life to a monastery to go elsewhere for education. Universities, which were more like student unions at the time, were formed. Paris, Oxford and Bologna were the only known Universities from the time. Because education no longer was associated directly with the Church, many of those who were taught elsewhere were not as tied to Christianity if they wouldÕve been had they been educated within the walls of a monastery.

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