Changes

===The Schism in England===

===The Schism in England===

As early as 1361 there were criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church from England.  John Wyclif (or Wycliffe) (1330-1384) was a lecturer at Oxford University, a leading world university founded in the late 1100s.  Wyclif was very critical of the perceived wealth and power of the Catholic Church and questioned the scriptural basis for the pope.  Wyclif declared the Bible as the sole guide for Christians, and Wyclif translated the Bible into English.  But Wyclif was forced out of Oxford when he rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation and when the Peasant’s Revolt in 1381 was blamed on Wyclif’s teachings.

As discussed earlier in this lecture, as early as 1361 there were criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church in England.  John Wycliffe (or Wyclif) (1330-1384) was a lecturer at Oxford University, a leading world university founded in the late 1100s.  Wycliffe was very critical of the perceived wealth and power of the Catholic Church and questioned the scriptural basis for the pope.  Wycliffe declared the Bible as the sole guide for Christians, and Wycliffe translated the Bible into English.  But Wycliffe was forced out of Oxford when he rejected the doctrine of transubstantiation and when the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 was blamed on Wycliffe’s teachings.

The King of England split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1529 for reasons completely independent of Martin Luther and the German schism.  In fact, the King of England defended the pope against Martin Luther’s complaints.  But a different issue arose in England that had nothing to do with theology.  The King of England did not think that he should be told whom he could or could not marry by a pope in Rome.  This schism was purely over power.

The King of England split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1529 for reasons completely independent of Martin Luther and the German schism.  In fact, the King of England defended the pope against Martin Luther’s complaints.  But a different issue arose in England that had nothing to do with theology.  The King of England did not think that a pope in Rome should have the power to tell him who he could or could not marry.  This schism was purely over power.

King Henry VIII sought a (male) heir, but did not have any sons from his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon.  King Henry VIII demanded a divorce from her so that he could take a younger wife (Anne Boleyn) who might give birth to a baby boy.  King Henry VIII sought approval by the pope to divorce Queen Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn.  The pope refused.  The king next did what he wanted and founded the Church of England (the Anglican Church) in 1529.  The pope excommunicated the king in about 1535.  The king then beheaded any member of the Catholic clergy (including Thomas More) who refused to bow down to this new Church of England, and seized lands belonging to the Catholic Church for the benefit of the new Church of England.  Religious conflict in England followed for several hundred years.

King Henry VIII sought a (male) heir, but did not have any sons from his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon.  King Henry VIII demanded a divorce from her so that he could take a younger wife (Anne Boleyn), who might give birth to a baby boy.  King Henry VIII sought approval by the pope to divorce Queen Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn.  The pope refused.  The king next did what he wanted and founded the Church of England (the Anglican Church) in 1529.  The pope excommunicated the king in about 1535.  The king then beheaded any member of the Catholic clergy (including Thomas More) who refused to bow down to this new Church of England, and the king seized lands belonging to the Catholic Church for the benefit of the new Church of England.  Religious conflict in England ensued for several hundred years.

King Henry VIII quickly tired of his new wife Anne Boleyn, and arranged for a divorce from her in order to marry Jane Seymour.  He forced Anne Boleyn to be beheaded, along with others falsely accused of wrongdoing.  Jane Seymour did give birth to a son (Edward) who became Henry VIII’s heir to the thrown.  But Henry VIII divorced and married, and divorced and married, and divorced and married, over and over.  He had a total of six wives in his life.  The fate of each wife can be remembered by this mnemonic:  “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.”

Subsequently, King Henry VIII tired of his new wife Anne Boleyn, and arranged for a divorce from her in order to marry Jane Seymour.  He forced Anne Boleyn to be beheaded, along with others falsely accused of wrongdoing.  Jane Seymour did give birth to a son (Edward) who became Henry VIII’s heir to the thrown.  But Henry VIII divorced and married, and divorced and married, and divorced and married, over and over.  He had a total of six wives in his life.  The fate of each wife can be remembered by this catchy mnemonic:  “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.”

There were subsequently “protestant” separations from the Church of England.  For example, the Pilgrims who left England on the Mayflower and landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, sought to break away from the Church of England.  The larger and more successful Puritans who settled in Boston sought to “purify” the Church of England while remaining in it.

There were subsequently “protestant” separations from the Church of England.  For example, the Pilgrims who left England on the Mayflower and landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, sought to break away from the Church of England.  The larger and more successful Puritans who settled in Boston sought to “purify” the Church of England while remaining in it.