Separation of Church & State: Part 1 .... De heretico comburendo

[dadadadio]

 
Roman conquest brought Christianity to England in the 2nd century, it didn't stick. In 597 A.D. Pope Gregory 1 sent Augustine to Kent with the task of converting the savage Brits to Catholicism. This Gregorian Mission lead to the establishment of The Church of Canterbury. Life in England would never be the same. For the next 938 years religion

Comments

[april1848]

That was a great blog. I've never heard of Roger WIlliams before and now I'd like to learn more about him.

I have the same feelings about Catholicism. It's really hard not to when you know a little about history. There have been some really bad popes; one of them used to have orgies in the Vatican Palace, and many fathered children after they were ordained. The power the papacy held over each country in Europe was scary.

The Lollards, in my opinion anyway, led to the Peasant's Revolt in, I think, the 1300's. That eventually led to the end of serfdom in England. Free-thinkers back then faced many dangers.

I'm glad you're writing this. It's such an important topic, and the separation of church and state seems to be waning in this country lately. It's scary. I think it's very important to know at least a little history, so we don't make the same mistakes. I wish more people would study it. I'm looking forward to your next entry!

[dadadadio]

I catually chopped a paragraph about the Peasant's Revolt because it was more a civil issue than religious, but the Lollard's were rabble rousers in that event.

Roger Williams and separation was actually the original topic of this whole video / blog idea but I kept getting stuck because I felt I couldn't cover RW without touching the basis for some of his philosophy, the brutal reformation period that preceded his life. While working on that I ended up going further back until I reached Wycliffe. That's when I realized he was the first 'free thinker' ... so I decided the tale must start with him.

Williams is a great man forgotten in history unless you're from Rhode Island where he's well known, documented, with his name on monuments, parks, avenues and a university. The man was a friend of the indians, bought all the chartered land from them and translated their native language to English. His tales of life with indians and his translations were a best seller in England.

I'll get to that down the road.

[ext_1503965]

I'm not sure where you're getting that the 'separation of church and state seems to be waning' bit. They've stopped saying the pledge of allegiance in schools I hear. Because it mentions God? There used to be prayer in schools. Not anymore. All I seem to hear is how the government is leaning more and more away from anything to do with any religion. Am I misunderstanding you?

[dadadadio]

I think we're heading in the right direction, but I don't have a problem with under god in the Pledge or 'In God We Trust' on our currency, and I have no issue with a creche at the courthouse. Those are symbolic, traditional observations hurting no one. I have issue with militant atheists who pitch a fit over every little religious symbol in the public square. I believe they give us heathens a bad name. They preach atheism as a priest pushes faith. Neither is good for society.

If you read this post and those to follow you'll see the pattern of abuse, denial of rights and atrocities committed by men in the name of religion that made me realize we must keep the affairs of state and faith separated. No religion should be permitted to dictate morality and punish those who don't willfully adopt that faith. It's really just simple history, events displaying how religion can be used against men for the gains of men.

It really has little to do with a God, whether there is one or not.

[syntheticjesso]

I'm not ashamed to be a Christian, but man, sometimes I am ashamed of the things people have done in Christianity's name. None of this "burning people alive" stuff is Biblical.

Thanks for posting this, I didn't know about Wycliff. Between you and April, I just might learn some history!

[dadadadio]

My 'separation series' will be half history and half opinion. Part 1 was mostly history because I have to set the stage for my rants. At the very least you'll get a perspective on religion and history you're probably not exposed to very often in the Lone Star State.