A Comparative Analysis of Berith and the Sacrament of Baptism and How They Contributed to the Inquisition

In 1391 Spanish Jews were forcibly converted to Catholic Christianity, and Portuguese suffered the same fate in 1497. Jewish law rendered involuntary converts as anusim voluntary meshumadim. Christians without ancestry called them by various names, New Christians, alboraique, xuetas, marranos, name a few. fifteenth century, clerical authorities debated whether indeed albeit coerced. Canonic sacrament of baptism irrevocable. As such, any belief or practice not accordance with doctrine was tantamount heresy. Consequently, Inquisition sought rid Church “Judaizing heresy.” On one hand, Sinaitic covenant (berith) considered Jews, even though there Christians. This paper analyzes canonic on respective religious identities. It includes an examination rabbinic texts responsa, Christian baptism. Both traditions fought for souls anusim, characterizing what Victor Turner calls liminality communitas.