Rosslyn
The medieval Church developed its dogmatic and legalistic structures under the delusion that it alone had absolute control over all forms of knowledge, education and divine revelation. It supported its repressive regime by a two-fold rule of fear--fear of persecution for heresy in the present buttressed by fear of eternal hell-fire and damnation in the life hereafter. This somewhat peculiar concept of Christian love spreads its tentacles downwards from the pope through the hierarchy of bishops, priests and parishes to control emperors, kings, feudal lords and peasantry alike. All who openly ventured opinions or beliefs that contradicted those of the Church were persecuted, excommunicated, tortured or burned at the stake. To make matters worse, in most countries, for the majority of the time at least, Church and State were effectively one. This Church/State alliance became de facto the establishment; all those of independent spirit were simply the oppressed...The Church exerted a complete stranglehold over all forms of intellectual life and education from early on in its unholy alliance with Rome until the twelfth century.
Outwardly successful, rich, powerfull and repressive, the Church used the doctrine of personal salvation allied to fear of eternal hell-fire and damnation to achieve total domination over its flock. The gnostics and mystics, however, used the fruits of their spiritual insights for the direct and immediate benefit of the community in which they moved.
--Rosslyn. Element Books Ltd. 2000
.i.