Religious Conflict in England essays

Religious Conflict in England essays Religious Conflict in England During the Tudor and Stuart Monarchs Religious turmoil has existed in England for centuries. A specific time in British history during which religious conflict reached its height was during the Tudor and Stuart dynasties from the late fifteenth century to the early eighteenth century. In fifteen seventeen Martin Luther opened the door for personal biblical interpretation through his defiance of the Roman Catholic Church in his ninety-five theses, which resulted in his banishment from the church by the Pope. Along with Luther's rebellion against, the church many countrymen (including many members of parliament) began to notice the poor education of their own Catholic clergymen. The Catholic Church in England was crying out for reform. England officially changed their religion during Henry VIII's rule. This demanding monarch wanted a son, something his wife, Catherine of Aragon, could not provide for him. Upon learning of his wife's inability to bear children, he wanted a divorce, yet had difficulty gaining papal approval. To cater to his own interest, Henry VIII changed England's religion from Catholicism to Anglican, making himself the head of the church, giving him the authority to his own divorce to Catherine. Many laws were passed during the Tudor rule that threatened papal supremacy and shaped the new Protestant religion emerging in England at this time (early 1500's). Among these was the Act of Appeals, which granted the Archbishop of Canterbury power over the pope in England to settle theological disputes. The last English ties with the Roman Catholic Church were severed when Henry VIII's refusal to repent of his divorce from Catherine and disputable marriage to Anne Bolyn. Excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church, Henry VIII appointed himself as head of the Church of England. Religion in England was now ruled under royal sovereignty. Although the Church of Engl...