The Preface to the 39 Articles of the Church of England describes the monarch as “being by God’s ordinance, according to our just Title. Defender of the Faith and ……Supreme Governor of the Church of England” (i.e. a full, confirmed member) and, in his or her coronation oath the monarch promises to maintain the Church. (Images of British and American Culture and Society)
When Henry and his son died, his daughter was in power. She was a pious adherent of Catholicism. She treated cruel to the Protestant. Until her sister Elisabeth got the power, the Church of England was consolidated in the doctrines and practices.
The religious problem in history
During the 17th century, the British Civil war in a respect was caused by the religious problem. Puritanism became a popular belief among the common people in the 17th century, but James I and Charles I persecuted the puritan so cruelly that they forced may puritans to leave for Northern America. At last the kings persecution caused revolt. The Parliament, which represented the benefits of common peoples, took advantage of Puritanism to oppose the king who was the representation of the Church of England, and then the Civil War broke out. (Cultural Background for English Study: Britain and Australia)
The general situation of religion in Britain
After the religious reformation, most people in Britain believe the Protestantism. Also, the Protestantism is the official religion. But now everyone in Britain has the right to religious—freedom in teaching, worship and observance—without interference from the community or the state. Religious organizations and groups may own property run schools and promote their beliefs in speech and writing. There is no religious bar to the holding public office.
In today’s Britain, besides the established churches and other Christian denominations, most of the world’s other religious are also represented in Britain, including large Hindu Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities. (Cultural Background for English Study: Britain and Australia)
There are also different Christian Churches, such as Established Churches, The Free Churches, The Roman Catholic Church, The Unitarians, Free Christian and The Pentecostalists.
And there are a number of organizations exist which seek to develop relations between different religious in Britain, such as Inter-Faith Network for the United kingdom, Council of Christians and Jews and so on.
The institution and the relationship with government
The Church of England has its own management system.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the Primate of all England, that is to say, he is the spiritual leader of the Church of England. After him, the Archbishop of York is called the Primate of England and under these to archbishops come a number of bishops. England is divided into forty-two districts called dioceses, each with a bishop in charge and a cathedral as the central church. A diocese is divided into smaller districts called parishes. These vary in size, a large town having a number of parishes and a village being a single parish. Each parish is in the care of a priest, who is called either a vicar or a rector. A vicar with a large parish may have an assistant priest called a curate to help him.
But it’s not an individual system; it also has something related with government.
Here are some examples of the relationship between the established Church and the State. Archbishops and bishops are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, who considers the names selected by a Church Commission. They take an oath of allegiance to the Queen on appointment and may not resign without royal authority. The connection between Church and State is also symbolized by the fact that the Lords Spiritual (consisting of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and 24 diocesan bishops) sits in the House of Lords. Parish priests also take an oath of allegiance to the Queen.
The General Synod (including the bishops, elected representatives from the clergy and the laity) is the supreme authority of the Church of England. The Queen opens the synod after the elections in the dioceses every five years. Since 1919, the synod (formerly called the Church Assembly) has had the power (delegated by Parliament) to pass Measures on any matter concerning the Church of England. Following acceptance of the Measures by both Houses of Parliament (which cannot amend them, nor—by convention—initiate or discuss ecclesiastical measures, as many members of both Houses do not belong to the Church of England), the Measures are submitted for Royal Assent and become law. In addition to legislating for the Church by Measure the General Synod has the power to legislate by Canon in its own domestic affairs such as worship and doctrine, but the Queen’s assent is required for the promulgation of such canons, such assent is given on the Home Secretary’s advice. (Images of British and American Culture and Society)
The impact of religion
Religion not only has played a part in politics, it also played an important part on people’s daily life.
The adherents pray everyday, go to church every week, read the Bible now and then. The doctrines are deep in their heart.
The vigorous Protestant elements, both in the Church of England and outside it, were very active in the fight against the more obvious forms of sin. Such people hated all self-indulgence and promoted state action to suppress it. The laws restricting drinking and gambling, and forbidding many activities were on the old Puritan tradition with its condemnation of the pursuit of pleasure and its insistence on hard work and self-sacrifice.
Since the early 19th century religion has been the chief inspiration of the immense amount of work for good causes, which is so much in evidence in England. I numerable organizations had been built up by voluntary effort for the purpose of helping the poor, the old, the sick, the young people and other groups who seem to need sympathetic care, and very many of these organizations have a religious origin. Much of this work is connected with particular churches and regarded as an expression of Christian duty in the world. (Images of British and American Culture and Society)
The most important impact of religion is the festivals. Some religious holidays spread to the world, and become world’s festivals, such as Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter and Acsension.
Christmas Day is to celebrate the birth of ‘Iesous. The Good Friday is to commemorate the days. ‘Iesous was on cross. And the Easter is to commemorate ‘Iesous coming back to life.
The nowadays situation
On Oct. 27th, 2004, the educational minister promulgated an outline on religious education. It’s the first national one. It demands students that, they should learn some unfamiliar religion, and the common and conflicts between different religions. The government thinks, religious education can change the evaluation of students, can broad their sights of the world. It can support a series of abundant experiences; can help students to realize their beliefs positively. But there are also some people against it. They think this outline teaches students that “The superstition is the base of reasonable life.” However, more and more students choose the Religious Class.
Though government wants to improve the situation, it is under our expectation. The different religions are going to live separately. And the situation that different religions don’t communicate with each other is more serious now. This will cause new conflicts.
Conclusion:
As we all know, in the Middle East, religious conflict is the main reason of their wars. It warns us that we should pay attention to it and handle the conflicts properly.
Reference:
Cultural Background for English Study: Britain and Australia (The Third Edition)
何田编注 殷宝书校订 北京大学出版社
Images of British and American Culture and Society 罗选民主编 华中科技大学出版社
基督教小词典 卓新平主编 上海辞书出版社