Although some "scientific" thinking has begun to emerge, the Church and the Imperial Nobles, still the dominant forces, have become very feudal and conservative to maintain the stability of their rule. This was true even in Totnes, a place with a relatively open social environment, where one could glimpse this struggle within the academy.
You must understand that the Church holds a true monopoly over death. They conduct the ceremonies and bury the deceased in their own graveyards. According to their sacred laws, even after death, one must go to their god's domain.
For ordinary people, the only way to achieve eternal rest was through the Church. This is why some lower-class believers, despite their sorry state, still tolerated it, believing they would experience incredible joy after death.
