Religion in Britain

name: zheng jun   student number: 3040511072   class:0403

Table of contents:

Introduction

History review

The English Reformation

The religious problem in history

The general situation of religion in Britain

The institution and the relationship with government

The impact of religion

The nowadays situation

Conclusion

Reference

Introduction:

Religion has always played an important part in People’s daily life in Britain. It will be very helpful when we study the Britain. So this passage is going to talk about religion in Britain, include history, impact and so on.

History review:

The English Reformation

In the 15th century, the plague and the war created confusion in European. A lot of people died. More and more people turn to Churches for help. But the corruption in the Churches made people distrust them. And the first Religious Reformation burst out in Germany. Britain was a Catholic country at that time, soon after the reformation in Germany, the doctrines of the Lutheran Church spread to Britain. At the same time, there was request for reformation in the Catholicism. But, in Britain, the monarchical power was the threat to Catholicism. The monarchical power in Britain became stronger since the 15th century. Henry VII got the middle class’s support, and he brought the nobles and parliament under control. It meant the autocracy achieved an initial victory. When Henry VIII ascended the throne, the Catholicism was the only obstacle to the autocracy.

And an accidental factor led to Henry VIII breaking from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry VIII had only one daughter, but there was no precedent to go by for a woman to be in power. So Henry wanted to divorce with the queen and marry again. And the Pope didn’t approve his request. And at that time, the rising bourgeoisie and the nobles envied the churches’ property, and the city residents wanted to develop the industry and commerce, they all hoped to overthrow the rule of Catholic Church.

Getting the people’s support, Henry decided to break from the Roman Catholic Church. A series of Parliamentary acts brought about the English Reformation. Henry VIII denied papal claims to ecclesiastical or any other jurisdiction, and declared himself rater than the Pope as Supreme Head of the Church in England.

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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 ...

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