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THE ENLIGHTENMENT
The so called Enlightenment occurred during the same period described
above i.e. about 250 years ago. As the name suggests thinking people
became “enlightened” at this time by the first real
forays
into science, a renewed interest in philosophy, human rights and
freedom of speech. Up to this time any criticism of the
Church or
the King could be a reason for execution. Science brought about ideas
which were contrary to the stories in the bible and the teachings of
the Church. Frenchman Voltaire’s words summed it up:
“I may
disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to
say it”(Circa 1750) The official end of the Enlightenment was
the
French Revolution (1790; people versus the King) but in religious terms
the end was some 50 years later with the publication of “The
origins of Man” (Englishman Darwin in 1859 and 1871). Darwin
postulated the theory of development of animals and humans by natural
selection or survival of the fittest. This flew right in the face of
the “Creation” in the bible and made Christians
wonder what
other parts of the teachings of the bible and the church should be
treated with a pinch of salt. Church teachers to this day are
struggling to come to terms with the findings of modern science. The
difference in the last few years (perhaps 25) is that
Voltaire’s
wish for a free and open debate is now possible in England and to a
lesser extent most countries in the western Christian world.
The main contributors to this revolution for freedom of speech and the
arguments to debate were:
- Rene Descartes
1596-1650 Frenchman. Worked mainly in
Scandinavia as it was too dangerous for him in France. Noted
for:
- Theology Roman Catholic
- Mathematics, Geometry
- Philosophy, There are two things in the world, mind and
matter. Quote “I think therefor I am”.
- John Lock
1632-1704 Englishman. Philosopher and writer. Noted for
- Human rights
- Kings have no “divine” right to rule.
- Human ideas come from experiences, Humans are born with a
blank mind.
- Blain Pascal,
Frenchman, Physicist and Philosopher. Noted for:
- Mathematics
- Fluid mechanics
- Mechanical Calculators
- Theology
- Sir Isaac
Newton, 1642-1727 Englishman and Jew. Professor at
Cambridge. Probably the most famous and influential of this period.
Noted for:
- Understanding gravitation. Looking at apples falling off
trees
to the earth and seeing this is the same force as causes the moon to
orbit the earth. Hence completing the maths started by the Italian
priest Galileo who was nearly burnt at the stake some 200 years earlier
by proving to the Pope that the Earth orbited the sun rather than the
other way round as expounded by the church. The Popes took
some
500 years to admit the church was wrong.
- Mathematics, invented calculus.
- Optics, discovered that white light (sun light) is made
up from 7 primary colours.
- Calculated the age of the earth as 3500 BC. (Some way out
as we know now but he used the biblical texts)
- Francois
Voltaire, 1694-1778 Life long campaign against injustice
and intolerance. Spent time imprisoned in the famous Paris jail, the
Bastille. Released and fled to England. He ended his life in
Switzerland. Noted:
- Philosopher and moralist.
- Scientist
- Writer, campaigning for human rights in Religion and
Politics.
A few years later we had the Darwin family. Grandfather Erasmus Darwin
1731-1802 Medical science, and his most famous Grand son;
- Charles Darwin
1809-1882. Charles postulations were so
revolutionary that at first he dare not publish them.
Following a
study of animals he proposed that the “Creation” in
the
Bible was wrong and that animals were not created as we see them now by
God but that they evolved into what they are now through a process of
“natural selection” or survival of the fittest.
Most noted
for:
- Medicine
- Biology
- Religion
After Darwin the attitude of most Protestant Christians was never the
same again. The majority felt that many doctrines needed to be
continuously updated to take into account the advances in Science,
particularly Medical Science. But at the same time the basic teachings
of Jesus were still valid for example: “Thou shalt not
kill” and “Do unto others as you would they would
do unto
you”. Roman Catholics who need to have the nod from
the
Pope before their religion can embrace a change generally take many
years longer to permit new ways. Good examples in Medical science are:
Abortion (of an unborn child, understandably the most controversial) ,
Contraception and the genetic creation of human organs for saving the
life of fellow men.
Still 250 years ago.
An explosion in the
varieties of Christian expression.
Indeed going back 500 years to the reformation, there were many
reformers each producing a different version of the Protestant
faith. The earlier reformers were of course Englishman
Wycliffe
followed, Luther and Calvin both active more than 500 years ago. In
England the Church theology adopted, mainly under the guide lines of
Archbishop Thomas Cramner, are not strictly Protestant. The Church of
England is best described as Anglo Catholic. If it were Protestant the
religious hierarchy would be much flatter and Bishops would not exist
on the basis that humans in such a powerful position can corrupt the
Church. The Church of England retains a similar hierarchy to
the
Catholic Church but the head of the Church is not the Pope but the King
or Queen of England. The other main difference is that
changes
can be made much more easily in the C of E as the effective leader is
the Archbishop of Canterbury who is much closer to the needs of his
flock than can ever be possible when the head of a church is remote and
speaking for a large number of different countries. Thus true
followers of Luther and Calvin could not follow the path of the C of E
and a huge variety of Protestant Churches have been formed, mainly in
England, as follows: (In date order)
- 1530 Lutheranism. Followers of Luther of course, the
original and now
the biggest Protestant Church worldwide. (80m followers) The official
church of the Scandinavian countries and much of Germany also strong in
the US. The Church was reluctantly accepted by the Holy Roman Empire
following meetings in Augsburg in south west Germany in 1530 Charles
5th present and 1555 Ferdinand 1st present. Lutheranism as
such
has churches in England but other Protestant churches are much larger.
- 1560 Presbyterian, Started in Scotland by John Knox who was
a
Calvinist. Hence Presbyterians have no Bishops or prayer book and no
religious Icons like pictures of Jesus and no Alter in Church. Became
the official church of Scotland in 1696. Also many Presbyterians in the
North of Ireland.
- 1570 Puritans, started in England in the reign of Elizabeth
1st by
those who thought the C of E was too Catholic both in management i.e.
the retention of Bishops, and in “Popish” rituals
like
wedding rings, taking one’s hat off in church and the
retention
of Icons. These English Puritans expected James from
Presbyterian
Scotland to become a Puritan but he persecuted them instead. Many then
fled to America to form a new colony. (The Mayflower/Thanksgiving story)
- 1640 Quakers originally the Society of Friends. Some of the
Puritans
who remained in England formed a new sect under George Fox.
They
were noted for a distinctive dress (very simple), hard work, pacifism
and Puritan worship. They were also persecuted and in 1682 in
the
reign of Charles 2nd under their leader William Penn they followed
their friends the Puritans to America. (King Charles 2nd gave the area
in America now called Pennsylvania to Penn as a Quaker sanctuary)
- 1750 Methodists. Followers of John Wesley. Again a back to
basics
Protestant Church which split from the C of E in 1790. Now
the
largest Protestant faith in the USA. Simple theology; repentance,
faith, love. The Wesley family wrote many hymns regularly sung in
English churches to this day.
- 1872 Jehovah’s Witnesses. Founder American
Charles Russell. Not a
Christian religion but followers see Jesus as their sole prophet/leader
(but not the son of God) and hence will not take orders from secular
leaders. Always pacifists. Originally called Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society. One of the most active door to door evangelist
movements in England.
- 1879 The church of Christian Scientists opened in Boston
USA for
followers of American Mary Baker Eddy. 1821-1910. Mary was a
sickly child but was much improved by the faith healer Phineas
Parkhurst Quimby. Devotees shun any modern medicine and rely
solely on prayer and meditation for cures. There have been many cases
of Christian Scientists dying unnecessarily having refused medical
treatment in hospitals. A very popular movement in England in the early
1900s.
- 1950 New Age is one of the latest religions initially
created by
English girl Alice Bayley when living in the USA. The movement gathered
momentum following six events:
- The Beatles interest in Indian religions particularly
Hindu and their
enthusiastic following of Transcendental Meditation as taught to them
by the Hindu guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
- The American musical “Hair”
- The Vietnam War.
- The assassination of President Kennedy.
- The 1960s sex revolution
- The conversion and preaching and the books of film star
Shirley MacLaine
Followers believe in reincarnation, are quite often anti
western culture and look for a new “truth” and way
of life.
Humanists
In summary we can compare the beliefs of the Secular Humanist with
those of Christianity. The idea of humanism did not start yesterday but
700 years ago as science began to demonstrate that all the teachings in
the bible could not be taken as gospel. During the Renaissance the
movement gathered a pace but early humanists still believed there was a
God. Dutchman Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) perhaps the most
influential humanist thinker of the Renaissance period was invited to
England by Henry 7th and influenced Henry 8th. The movement further
gathered strength during the Enlightenment and has retained a strong
following ever since.
Comparing modern Humanists with Christianity we have:
| All Christians believe there is a God.(Bible Genesis
Ch. 1) |
Humanists are atheists
that is they say there is non God. |
| Christians believe that humans, following the sins of
Adam and Eve are
born evil and need to repent to God by following the teachings of Jesus
before they can be considered good.(Genesis Ch. 3) |
Humanists
believe all humans are born good and it is up to individuals whether
they choose good or evil. |
| Humanists believe man discovers truth and wisdom
through logical
thought |
Christians believe all truth is Gods truth and all
discoveries
are only part of what God has created.(Acts of the Apostles Ch. 17 v.
24-28) |
| Humanists believe morals are developed by human
experience and debate
which can include the teachings of Jesus or any other secular or
religious moralist. |
Christians believe that morals and ethics
must be based on Gods written word (Bible Exodus Ch. 21) and the
teachings of Jesus (Bible Saint John Ch. 1) |
CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND
TODAY
All Christian faiths are now free to worship and there are many more
Roman Catholics than might be expected in a Protestant country. This is
mainly due to a million Catholics coming to England at the time of the
Irish potato famine 150 years ago. The Queen is still head of
the
Church of England which is clearly a problem in a country which has so
many other accepted faiths. This is sure to be debated in depth over
the next few years. Church attendance is very low at below 5% of the
population and the Christian churches have no visible recruiting
programmes. The emphasis is how to live side by side with followers of
other faiths.
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