"...the common law of Christendom" ?

Question

I've been reading Churchill's "The Birth of the Britain" and came across a passage on John Wyclif and the Lollards (the first British heresy). Cross-checking "Lollards" with the Catholic Encyclopaedia I came across a statement that in 1401 England passed a law granting the church the power to identify heretics, who were to be handed over to the state to be burned at the stake. The CE claimed this was "merely the application to England of the common law of Christendom."

In the case of the Lollards, they were burned for claiming the Eucharist was nothing more than "a mouthful of bread".

That got me wondering about today's christianity.

Given the power the church had over the state, and through the state: the people, to terrorize people into supporting the state and church through the threat of the stake, why would you favour an end to the division between church and state? Who would you wish to see burned: Unbelievers? Heretics? And who should judge them on Earth?

When Christians are in a majority, and the vast majority of politicians elected are also Christian, how does one argue that one lives in a country where the separation of church and state exists?

Lila: "don't get cathoclicism and Christianity confused" - Are you aware that at the time of the Lollards the only other "Christianity" was the Eastern Orthodox Church? All divisions of Christianity trace their ancestry back to the Catholic Church. Through the burning of heretics, there was only one Christianity in the West.

Answer 1

As a Christian, I'm all for seperation of church and state. My church is in no way funded by the government. We can't even afford our own building. There are strong factions of the "religious right" in our country claiming to represent America, God, and all Christians. They only seem to be the majority because the media loves to put them out there for everyone to see. A true Christian would be for God's nation first. Every other nation could come and go like the wind. If America is a Christian nation, we sure don't act anything like Christ.

Answer 2

Bush and the GOP are fornicating with the Christian Right and resulted in the shedding of blood in the US, Iraq and Lebanon.

The Ecumenical Patriarch is fornicating with the Greek American political lobby to restore the Byzantine Empire and permit the Patriarch to have full freedom in Turkey.

Lest we forget that before 1922, the Ecumenical Patriarch implored Greek soldiers to reconquer Turkey but the British and Americans were not interested in re-establishing Greek hegemony. Ataturk taught the Greeks a lesson, a lesson that should have been long forgiven.

Church and State have no business together - PERIOD.

Answer 3

yet due to the wisdom of the founding fathers the United States still remains a nation with a significant degree of separation between church and state.

It is this which allowed us to become a great nation. If Christianity would ever become the law in America I would move.

Answer 4

The Bible likens the relationship between Christendom and the 'kings of the earth' as fornication.

Why sir, would you consider using that, when it in fact, that sort of acts and worship is detestable to God.
Killing an unbeliever is not a christian act.
That action belongs to God through Christ.
They punish those that don't listen to us. We take no further action as Christians beyond trying to save their life. If they don't listen to us, they get what is coming because of their choosing. And they get it from God, not us.

Today's Christendom leaders parallel with the Pharisees of Jesus time.
We know what Jesus thought of them.
We know about the relationship between the Romans and the Sanhedrin. It's no different with today's false religions and man's governments.

Soon all will bend knee to Christ when his Kingdom rules the earth, and all false religion and mans governments will be gone

1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
1Co 15:28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
.

Answer 5

okay, first,don't get cathoclicism and Christianity confused.I myself am a Christian, and to tell you the truth,i would rather see no one burned.ALL sinners get a chance to beleive in Christ.Simple matter of whether they choose to or not.When still possessing corporeal bodies and on earth, no one but God will judge our actions.God is not only limited to the heavens.If He was,then why would He be called God?God created all of the universe including you, so you should pray and give thanks to the Lord.
however,America is starting to try to push God out of everything