Religion in G.B.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 461.

General Review.In GB, there ia complete freedom of religious practice but no one may take the throne who is not a member of the Church of England. If we take statistics, Christian confessions account for 4/5 of all believers; the inner distributuin looks approximately like this:

Roman Catholic Church – 22,3 %;

Anglican Church – 20,9%;

Presbytarian Church – 12,5%;

Free Churches – 16%

Orthodox – 3%.

Other confessions account for 1/5 of all believers; 1.240.000 believers are spread between Moslem, Sikh and Hindu Confessions; there are about 1000 mosques and prayer centres in GB.

Christianity first appeared on the islands in III A.D. Wales was the first to be converted by St.David, one of the leading luminaries. Columba is founder of Scottish Christian Church.The story of baptising Ireland deserves more attention: Patrick, a Roman Briton, was in his youth carried off and sold into slavery in Ireland. After some years he managed to escape, got 14 years of monastic training and in 432 sailed back to the wild regions. His success was amazing; he converted the heathen population and banished snakes from the island into the bargain. In 579 St.Augustin started converting Britons into Catholicism in Canterbury. Island gospels started appearing roughly at the same time. At present there are 2 Established (государственные) churches: Church of England and Church of Scotland. Catholicism has a historic priority. Most relevant features of this confession are: the Latin Bible and sermons in Latin + mystic rites or religious tradition (священное писание и священное предание). The Orthodox Church believes that only a martyr can achieve salvation. The divine reward is in Heaven; the Catholic Church preaches that there are divine awards here in your earthly existence as well. The schism (раскол) of the 2 churches took place in 1054.

At present most Catholic communities (or ‘Micks', as they are sometimes nicknamed) are located in the north-west of England, in Scotland, Wales and Nothern Ireland. The Archbishop of Westminster is the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Britain. GB is divided into 7 dioceses,every diocese is presided over by a bishop (that is why this church is called biscopal).

Anglican Church was set up in answer to Reformation movement – the European movement of religious and social reform which gave birth to Protestantism. Church at this period was an extremely reactionary institution: with the rise of grammar schools and universities monasteries ceased to play an important role in education; monks often had their own servants and didn't even take their meals together – most of brethren preferred taverns in towns. Protestants declared that God's reason and will is within human comprehension; that the Pope is but a man and not the best one; that the Church has no right to absolve and excommunicate; that the Bible must be translated.

In GB., unlike Germany and Switzeland it was not the result of social upheaval or religious wars; it was due to royal initiative and ‘descended' upon people by Henry VIII. Henry, until the death of his brother Arthur was intended for the church: he received excellent training in Latin, French, Italian, theology. He was called ‘the Defender of Faith' by the Pope himself. Reformation was initiated by him for personal reasons and economic considerations. Hence it is one of the mildest forms of Protestantism, a compromis. Anglican Church did away with:

a) papal supremacy in religious matters – the spiritual overlord is the King of GB;

b) preachings about the purgatory;

c) the practice of selling indulgences;

d) worshiping images or ‘idols' (statues or icons);

e) the institution of monks and nuns, monasteries and nunneries;

f) celibacy of the clergy.

It retained: a) the function of the Church as mediator on the road to salvation;

b) division into clergy and lay people;

c) the institute of bishops.

Two significant dates as to setting up the Church of England: 1534 – the ‘Supremacy Act'; 1536 – dissolution of monasteries - this appealed to the well-to-do, because country gentry acquired monastrey lands on favourable terms; 1549 – appearance of the unified Prayer Book. Nowadays this Church has 2 dioceses: Canturbery and York. The Primate of the Church (примас) is the Archbishop of Canterbury + there are 24 bishop, who are at the same time spiritual Lords of the Upper Chamber. Starting from 1994 not only men but women can become ministers. 1/5 ministers are women.

Protestantism is the latest mode of Christianity. The extreme form of Protestantism is puritanism (from ‘puros' – чистый). It sprang up within the reign of James I; protestants were persecuted and had to flee from the country. One such community settled in Holland and later sailed to America on board the ‘Mayflower'.They landed in Plymouth, settled in America and set up the so-called ‘Pyligrim Church'.

At the beginning of the XVII century Puritans further split up into 2 groups: the mild (Presbyterians) and the extreme – cogregationalist. Presbyters (старейшины) are the most esteemed people of the community (lay people) who by common assent head the community and govern it in matters religious and mundane. Presbytarian Church is the Established Church of Scotland; the service is very plain and buildings are austere – there is no alter, just a plain table.

Congregationalists, governed in a similar way, also preach entire independence from state and other communities (that's why they are often referred to as ‘independents'). Church is considered not a mediator but obstacle to salvation.Every man should have the right to read the Bible and address his prayer to the Lord directly. Thus, when in 1611 James I prodused the first Authorised Version of the Bible it was an immediate and lasting success. Copies were and are still sold for 5 shillings. This Book holds the absolute record as to the number of editions.

It was Puritans who gave staunch support to Oliver Cromwell and constituted the best army in the world of their time – ‘Ironsides', ‘Roundheads'. In social matters they were and are singularly prejudiced and intolerant.Under their short rule in England (The English Republic) all gambling and betting was forbidden. Adultery was a sin punishable by death. Alehouses were closed. Old village dances were considered immoral; athletic sports, horse-racing and wrestling were banned. Swearing was punished. Christmas parties were branded pagan rites and forbidden; soldiers were sent around London on X-mas day before dinnertime to confiscate meat cooking. Women were forbidden to wear lace and bright clothes, silk and jewelry. Sunday was to be spent in prayer and reading out loud from the prayer book. (They may be responsible for the saying ‘as dull as an English Sunday'). ‘Holy Joe' is a wide-spread nickname for a Puritan or a bore.

Free Churches or sects: baptists, methodists and the Salvation Army. ‘Baptists' originates from ‘baptizo' (крестить); this church instructs that only adults through conscious choice can come closer to the God and be baptised; and the ceremony itself is conducted correctly only when they immerse into the water; baptism by sprinkling water is not the correct procedure.

Methodism as a teaching appeared at the beginning of the XVIII century; the founder of it is John Wesley; this sect is very active in its missionary work; they preach only by the gospel. Salvation Army was organised in 1879 by William Boots; they see their mission in hepling the poor and the needy: older people, orphans, the unemployed, the homeless... SA set up free meals, free hospitals and outpatient clinics, dosshouses. It certainly alleviates social tension, so in many countries this organization gained governmental support. It is called ‘army' because it is organised according to military principles, has strict subordination, discipline and hierarchy. There is an oath to the Saviour to serve people and to give up bad habits. They have their own uniforms and officers: commisars, majors, captains and leutenants; they march to the music of military orchestras. The long term projects they run are: “Search for Missing People', ‘Prevention of Suicides', consulting centres. The organisation is well-spread; it encompasses 2 mln people in more than 100 countries of the world.One subsidiary mission of SA was opened in Moscow in 1992.

A few words about the Russian Orthodox Church in GB. It is funny but Prince Philip, Duke of Edinborough, spouse of the ruling monarch belongs to our church. There are 3 Cathedrals on GB territory, the biggest is Assumption Cathedral in London.

The influence of non-Christian confessions in GB is growing – and white English population gets attracted to the exotic beliefs and rites.(George Harrison, Beatles, became a follower of Maharishi (Krishnaite); whereas all congregations lose approximately 1000 followers weekly. Non-believers certainly prevail. For instance, only 1 child in a hundred could connect the term ‘millenium' with the birth of Christ.

There are certain attempts to revive interest to religion. In the 70s a new ‘Alpha' trend was started within Anglican Church by the vicar R.A.Gamble; he offered not just religious instruction but instruction in the broadest sense of the word: e.g. for one meeting he suggested discussing ferrous metals production, the game of squash and Jesus Christ – ‘a capital fellow'. Sermons in the Alpha go to the accompaniment of the electric guitar and ministers behave like TV announcers; this as well as attempts to use Rock in church, Rap for sermons, etc. is considered questionable practice by the Established Church.

Holidays and traditions of Christian origin. Wales, Scotland and Ireland have thier national holidays, associated with their Holy patrons: For Wales it is ST.David's day, celebrated in March, 1; on this day they decorate their clothes with daffodils. St.Patrick's day is observed in March,17. On this day the Irish paint the sign of shamrock next to everywhere and often wear green clothes. (According to the legent St.Patrick used this leave to explain the idea of trinity to the heathens.). Scotland's national day is St.Andrew's Day (November,30). St. George is the national Saint in England, his day is celebrated on the 23d of April.

But the major event for every Christian is undeniably Easter. It is observed on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or next after March 21, the spring equinox.There are some Easter games like egg-rolling and egg-shacking which are very popular in England, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Easter parades often take place in the afternoon, where people wear new clothes and competitions are held to find the best Easter bonnet. Easter (Passover) is preceeded by Palm Sunday. In Britain people used to go ‘a palming' to collect yew, hazel and willow branches to decorate churches. On Maundy Thursday Queen Victoria started the custom of giving specially minted money in the white purse to old people, one man and one woman for each year of the Queen's age. The day on which Jesus died is called Good Friday.