Essay On The Catholic Church

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Since its emergence during the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church has had a prevailing influence over the world. Its doctrines laid the base for modern standards of morality, and during the Dark Ages it acted as the brain and power behind many leaders. After the emergence of secular thought during the Renaissance the Church's power shifted into the background. In recent times, its influence has begun to shift back into the foreground. The Catholic Church is a religious body that is prominent in the Western world. The capital of the Catholic Church is located in Vatican City in Rome, where the body that represents the Catholic religion and its people is run from. The Catholic Church has always had an effect on politics, and during the Dark Ages its doctrines and beliefs were key to early leaders' decisions. It functioned as an icon to the people of what would come if they followed the laws, and an advisor to the leaders, helping them rule over their kingdoms. After secular thought appeared the Catholic Church's power fell to the wayside because secular thought placed importance on the individual and people began to live their life the way they wanted instead of how the Catholic Church told them to live it in order to get to Heaven. The Church retained its influence in new ways during this time by supporting what the people were interested in such as the sciences, art, and the return to classical thought. The Catholic Church is a very different institution now, rife with corruption and flaws, but still followed across the world. Many of its followers have fallen away however because they are frustrated by its corruption, or the dated doctrines that it applies to politics, specifically things like same sex marriage or contr...

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.... Whether it was acting as a preserver of knowledge and history, or an advisor to rulers, its influence has always been present. Even during the Renaissance, when secular thought was more prominent that devotion to faith, the Catholic Church's influence persisted, revealing itself through art, science, and law, among other things. The Church has maintained itself through adaptation, supporting fields that the people were dedicated to. Today the Church still holds some of that influence, though controversy in the institution has tarnished its reputation. Pope Francis, the 266th pope, is the Church's chance to make reparations for those mistakes, and to restore some of their influence over the people. With the positive response to Francis so far it appears that this influence is steadily returning, along with what may be very serious reforms to the institution.

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