Automatically expelling anyone who claims to be a prophetess, cutting off the voices, calling the individual deranged and putting the problem aside, is a completely normal reaction . In Joan's case, however, it is impossible to simply dismiss her claims, because her voices directed her every move. Her main defense against accusations of heresy and disregard for gender roles was that she was following God's instructions. This is clear when she states at the beginning of the trial: “I have done nothing except by revelation (p. 53). » This is a difficult statement to argue for or against. There is no proven method to determine whether these voices were divine or came from another source. Joan believed, as strongly as she believed in the Christian faith, that the voices came from God because she knew them well and could distinguish them by their voices and appearance. The problem was that she could provide no evidence other than her testimony. Joan was allowed to defend herself as best she could, but the verdict was predetermined. Joan had not consulted the Church before overturning these voices and feared them more than the Church itself, which is why she had sinned, regardless of whether the voices actually came from God or the Church.