How do Protestants rationalize King Henry VIII, and his selfish non-spiritual motivation?

[GKC]

Yes. Anglicanism is constantly bombarded with the Henry VIII divorce angle and considered a religion of Henry. In reality, Anglicans view the Church of England as having existed prior to the papacy’s domination over her, Henry is considered a scoundrel by just about every Anglican, but they appreciate that the moment was used to get the Church in England back on track to its pre-Roman roots polity-wise. Elizabeth I’s era did far more to create modern Anglicanism than Henry ever did…

I don’t mind anyone’s opinion; I think Hank a fascinating train wreck myself. But I know how to locate him in his history, contextually.

What I grow weary of is repeating the history.

GKC

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I don’t mind anyone’s opinion of him either. I can’t stand Henry. He’s a lot like watching Lindsey Lohan or Michael Jackson only throw in a weight problem and a lot of heads uh-rollin’!

I don’t mind anyone’s opinion; I think Hank a fascinating train wreck myself. But I know how to locate him in his history, contextually.

What I grow weary of is repeating the history.

GKC

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

And saying “heee heee” and “shawmoah, shawmoah” and doing that Thriller move with his hands by his head looking left to right abruptly…

Wait a minute, Henry liked women? Why are we comparing him to MJ?

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

As our venerable poster GKC might say, “huh?”

 

[FAB]

As for Anglicans, well none of us look at him as the “founder of our religion” - especially since he sided with Catholics on nearly every issue which divides us today. He simply set into motion the organizational separation of the Church of England from Rome, and if he was a nasty individual, well surely the good Lord can work through sinners.

That doesn’t explain his persecition of all those who wanted to remain Catholic.
It certainlay was more than an organzational seperation since he set himself up as the head of the church instead of the pope a reality that has existed including the present day queen.
I can’t say the I would want Charles or any of his sons the be the head of my church.

 

[Silver_Spring]

From what I understand, most people in Great Britain do not attend any church.

The television broadcast of the Royal Wedding was probably the only church experience that most Englanders have had in their entire lives.

Isn’t “church” and “religion” for most people in Great Britain a “national” thing, something that is part of their culture, like having a monarchy, and eating fish and chips, and Sherlock Holmes and James Bond? If this is the case, then perhaps there is some national pride in the idea that one of their kings broke away from Rome and became free and independent.

Funny, that’s pretty much word-for-word my understanding of their approach to religion. I don’t know for sure whether I’m right about it, but this is just about the exact picture I’ve always had. I can’t recall ever meeting a “devout Anglican.” Almost seems like an oxymoron. But again, that’s just my impression.

 

[GKC]

As our venerable poster GKC might say, “huh?”

No, the antiquated and decrepit GKC knows Terry Pratchett.

GKC

 

[GKC]

Funny, that’s pretty much word-for-word my understanding of their approach to religion. I don’t know for sure whether I’m right about it, but this is just about the exact picture I’ve always had. I can’t recall ever meeting a “devout Anglican.” Almost seems like an oxymoron. But again, that’s just my impression.

I know devout Anglicans.

GKC

 

[JRRTFAN]

I agree entirely. One of my very good friends is a Presbyterian (PC-USA not PCA so he’s not born of anti-Catholicism). He takes his son to their “Contemporary” service which he (my friend) hates but the kid will go to. I showed him a video of the Evangelical mega-church community service my family attends and he was appalled. He thought the PC-USA “contemporary” was cutting edge. Heck, he didn’t even know what he was seeing when a real Evangelical community boogies down, the guitar riffs, drum solos and pretty singers are awesome.

In my view, you’ve seen one Protestant, you’ve seen one Protestant, bucause you sure as heck ain’t seen 'em all.

 

[JRRTFAN]

Funny, that’s pretty much word-for-word my understanding of their approach to religion. I don’t know for sure whether I’m right about it, but this is just about the exact picture I’ve always had. I can’t recall ever meeting a “devout Anglican.” Almost seems like an oxymoron. But again, that’s just my impression.

That’s inccorrect. I have had the joy of attending Vespers at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool, UK. IN LATIN. This is a magnificent (formerly Catholic) cathedral. I then wandered the mile or so down the street to the Catholic Cathedral (in which NOTHING was going on), just for yucks, do a Google image search for Cathedral Liverpool and compare the Anglican and the tragedy that is the Catholic and then we can talk about devout.

Anglicans may be wrong, but C.S. Lewis was Anglican and Joseph Fessio, S.J. said of Lewis: I have never read a word of his with which I do not agree.

 

[piperspop]

Just to turn the tables for once, and listen to the howling…
How do Roman Catholics explain
"Pope Urban VI (1378–1389), who complained that he did not hear enough screaming when Cardinals who had conspired against him were tortured?"

 

[GKC]

Just to turn the tables for once, and listen to the howling…
How do Roman Catholics explain
"Pope Urban VI (1378–1389), who complained that he did not hear enough screaming when Cardinals who had conspired against him were tortured?"

Though your signature line is often attributed to Lewis, it’s from Walter Miller, CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ, chap. 25, p. 281 (1st. edition). Full quote is “You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body, temporarily”. The speaker is Abott Zerchi.

GKC

 

[GKC]

That’s inccorrect. I have had the joy of attending Vespers at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool, UK. IN LATIN. This is a magnificent (formerly Catholic) cathedral. I then wandered the mile or so down the street to the Catholic Cathedral (in which NOTHING was going on), just for yucks, do a Google image search for Cathedral Liverpool and compare the Anglican and the tragedy that is the Catholic and then we can talk about devout.

Anglicans may be wrong, but C.S. Lewis was Anglican and Joseph Fessio, S.J. said of Lewis: I have never read a word of his with which I do not agree.

I’m betting the good Father had not read some of Lewis’ letters.

And I think the Cathedral in Liverpool is Anglican, from the start. Edward VII laid the cornerstone in 1904.

Nit-picking aside, your observation is appreciated.

GKC, Lewis collector

 

[GKC]

I know. It makes the Anglican brick pile look dignified (actually I like the Anglican one).

Yesterday, somewhere, I read that the Anglican cathedrals in the UK had experienced a 3+ % increase in attendance last year. I have no explanation.

GKC

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I do…enhanced coffee hours…

I know. It makes the Anglican brick pile look dignified (actually I like the Anglican one).

Yesterday, somewhere, I read that the Anglican cathedrals in the UK had experienced a 3+ % increase in attendance last year. I have no explanation.

GKC

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

What in the name of all that is holy is that sucker?! That looks like something out of Beneath the Planet of the Apes! …or Romulan headquarters!

 

[StJudePray4Me]

What in the name of all that is holy is that sucker?! That looks like something out of Beneath the Planet of the Apes! …or Romulan headquarters!

I thought it looked like Space Mountain at Disneyworld…

As to the actual discussion at hand - I am admittedly the most amateur of historians, but I have always chalked the Henry VIII vs. Rome as mainly political, not religious. I believe that Henry wanted to keep most of the Catholic beliefs intact, he just didn’t want Rome having power and money that he felt was a threat to him.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Amateurs, aren’t we all! It does look like Space Mountain! Or perhaps Snake Mountain where Skeletor lived on He-Man!

Henry VIII was political. Dynastic marriages, as GKC points out, were political and religious intertwined and to be fair, other Catholics had been given decrees of nullity (gotta get that verbage right or GKC, my Jedi Master, will fillet me) with much less of a cause than Henry. But the family conflicts of interest really influenced the pope more than Henry. I look at the pope as being more driven by power plays and intimidated by the ramifications of granting a decree of nullity to Henry in that he’d irk the family of Catherine of Aragon…Holy Roman Empire ramifications. I think the pope wasn’t behaving out of pure morally-pure motivations either.

GKC could make the case better than moi…

I thought it looked like Space Mountain at Disneyworld…

As to the actual discussion at hand - I am admittedly the most amateur of historians, but I have always chalked the Henry VIII vs. Rome as mainly political, not religious. I believe that Henry wanted to keep most of the Catholic beliefs intact, he just didn’t want Rome having power and money that he felt was a threat to him.

 

[Silver_Spring]

That’s inccorrect. I have had the joy of attending Vespers at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool, UK. IN LATIN. This is a magnificent (formerly Catholic) cathedral. I then wandered the mile or so down the street to the Catholic Cathedral (in which NOTHING was going on), just for yucks, do a Google image search for Cathedral Liverpool and compare the Anglican and the tragedy that is the Catholic and then we can talk about devout.

Having never been to England, I guess I should have kept my mouth shut. I guess I was thinking more of the British folk I’ve met here in the US.

 

[aicirt]

Funny, that’s pretty much word-for-word my understanding of their approach to religion. I don’t know for sure whether I’m right about it, but this is just about the exact picture I’ve always had. I can’t recall ever meeting a “devout Anglican.” Almost seems like an oxymoron. But again, that’s just my impression.

How about C.S.Lewis? I think he’s amazing. Elizabeth II is said to be very religious.