Heresy
The Utraquists
The more moderate wing of the Hussites became known as the Utraquists. The word comes from the Latin utraque, which means "and also" for they argued the laity could at mass take the bread and also the wine. While the Utraquists shared many of the positions of the Taborites, they held to them more moderately. For example, Utraquists did recognize the authority of the University in spiritual matters. They allowed for the taking of oaths and in general they tended to want to be part of society rather than to separate from it.
The Eucharist was a difficult subject and produced a rainbow of positions, but in general the Utraquists regarded it more as a communion than as merely a memorial. At the center of this was the question of transubstantiation: what was the nature of the bread and wine when taken by a Christian? Was it literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ, as the Catholic Church maintained? Or did it remain bread and wine, but in some sense acquire holy characteristics not visible to the senses? Or was it in fact only bread and only wine?
Much depended on how that question was answered. The radicals, to prove that there was nothing intrinsically sacred to the object, would steal or storm into churches, throw the bread and wine on the floor and tread upon it. They felt they were breaking a dangerous superstition. In a similar spirit they destroyed icons, vestments, and other symbols of sacred power and space. It was very liberating to the believer, and very frightening to the conservative. Regardless of the religious position, these open actions served to polarize everyone.