Tradition and Dissent in English Christianity
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Tradition and Dissent in English Christianity
Question: In what ways has Roman Catholicism been an example of both religious tradition and dissent in England?
In analysing the role of tradition and dissent in the Roman Catholic Church, it is important to first state that the ideas of what constitutes tradition can vary greatly over such a comparatively long period of history. Today’s traditional standpoint on any given issue can easily be tomorrow’s dissent from it; orthodoxy has a habit of being subjective.
Here it will be argued that for the most part, though not unequivocally, that the Roman Catholic Church in England was a largely traditional force between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. Even when, swiftly after the reformation, Catholics were driven underground and treated as suspect, almost terrorist figures, the Church still had a wholly traditional outlook, even when caste into their occasion role as corrupt ‘other’ characters and when they were forced into positions of dissent.
Through a succession of Monarchs with differing views on religion, and notable times of hardship undergone by the majority of the population of England, for example the Great plague and civil war, what it has meant to be a Christian traditionalist in the country changed markedly over this time.
There are some fundamental aspects of Christianity that have remained ostensibly intact over time, and from which English Roman Catholic and Protestant believers alike do not dissent, among which are the beliefs that;
Jesus of Nazareth is the sinless son of God.
That, Christ, was resurrected after his death and is still living in heaven.
That after his life on earth, God sent the Holy Spirit to initiate and empower the church in its continuing witness to these central truths.
(Adapted from; AA100 Book 2, Tradition and Dissent. P.74 Section 3.1)
Of course there are many areas in which these two denominations of the same religion differ in their observance and practice...
Question: In what ways has Roman Catholicism been an example of both religious tradition and dissent in England?
In analysing the role of tradition and dissent in the Roman Catholic Church, it is important to first state that the ideas of what constitutes tradition can vary greatly over such a comparatively long period of history. Today’s traditional standpoint on any given issue can easily be tomorrow’s dissent from it; orthodoxy has a habit of being subjective.
Here it will be argued that for the most part, though not unequivocally, that the Roman Catholic Church in England was a largely traditional force between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. Even when, swiftly after the reformation, Catholics were driven underground and treated as suspect, almost terrorist figures, the Church still had a wholly traditional outlook, even when caste into their occasion role as corrupt ‘other’ characters and when they were forced into positions of dissent.
Through a succession of Monarchs with differing views on religion, and notable times of hardship undergone by the majority of the population of England, for example the Great plague and civil war, what it has meant to be a Christian traditionalist in the country changed markedly over this time.
There are some fundamental aspects of Christianity that have remained ostensibly intact over time, and from which English Roman Catholic and Protestant believers alike do not dissent, among which are the beliefs that;
Jesus of Nazareth is the sinless son of God.
That, Christ, was resurrected after his death and is still living in heaven.
That after his life on earth, God sent the Holy Spirit to initiate and empower the church in its continuing witness to these central truths.
(Adapted from; AA100 Book 2, Tradition and Dissent. P.74 Section 3.1)
Of course there are many areas in which these two denominations of the same religion differ in their observance and practice...