What is apostasy?
When a monk or a nun left their religious house without explicit permission, this was called ‘apostasy’.
In this video, Dr Sethina Watson explains how the laws of the medieval Church condemned apostasy, the serious consequences for apostates, and some of the reasons why nuns chose to risk those consequences by leaving their nunneries.
Over to you
If you were in the position of a nun in late medieval York, would you choose to stay in your nunnery or take the risk of being an apostate, and why?
Please share your comments with colleagues using the Comment function
Reach your personal and professional goals
Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.
Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.
