As far as I know, the Anglican Church started with Henry the Eighth, for his own selfish reasons.?

Question

How do Anglicans square that with their beliefs? I personally do not believe in god, or gods, and my question is a serious one. I make no judgments, and I may be entirely wrong about the origins of the Anglican Church. I am simply curious.

Answer 1

England was a Catholic nation for far longer than it has been Protestant. The protestantism in England began with Henry's dispute with the Pope over his request for a divorce. He ensured that the bulk of Christians accepted his new Church (of which he declared himself the head) by bribery, and by threats and persecution of those who would not accept his new Church. The dissolution and destruction of the monasteries, provided much filched wealth and land with which to bribe and reward those of any influence, in order to buy and secure their allegiance. Those who remained loyal to the Catholic Church were persecuted and many suffered martyrdom for their faith. Protestantism only arose as a serious movement in England as part of the process of finding additional justification for the the break from the Catholic Church and to provide some doctrinal differences which would ensure that the ruling classes and all those with vested interests (who had gained so much in wealth and power, from the the break with Catholicism) would not risk losing all they had gained by a return of England to the Catholic Church, which would have required the return of all the stolen Church property. So protestantism was a very useful innovation providing the seeds of animosity towards Catholicism necessary to ensure the permanence of the new Church. Unfortunately, this socially engineered animosity still survives as an undercurrent of hostility towards anything Catholic in Britain today.

Answer 2

The Anglican, Father K, gives a good answer, and he should know. I'm not an Anglican so I consulted a book (see below). Martin Luther technically began the Protestant Reformation on 31 October 1517. Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church of England in 1534. His quarrel with the pope was not on religious grounds, but merely on the selfish grounds that the pope would not sanction his proposed divorce of Queen Catherine. Henry hiself (though excommunicated) remained a Catholic in doctrine and practice all his days. The pope entitled him 'Defender of the Faith' for a book he wrote against Luther in 1521. In 1539 Henry issued the 'Six Articles' which aimed to restore the traditional Catholic faith. Yet he ended up destroying the power of the pope and ended monasticism in England. At the same time a powerful religious reform movement was going on amongst his people.

I believe in God and would venture to suggest that God's will is carried out both because of and in spite of, kings' cunning, papal politics and priestly protestations. As King Belteshazzar had to confess after God toppled him, [God's] "dominion is eternal, his kingdom endures from generation to generation... He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No-one can hold back his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'"

Answer 3

It's a bit more complicated than that. If you cast your mind back, you will remember that during the time of Henry's reign there was a great deal of discontent concerning the Popes and such things as the sale of indulgences. A great many people in countries other than England had broken with the Pope and established forms of worship outside the Roman Catholic faith. There had been foment in England to do the same for reasons of theology long before Henry's marital difficulties arose.

On the political side, Henry's claim to the throne was constantly being challenged, and there was a concern that without a male heir, the Tudor dynasty and its supporters would be out on its ear when Henry died. There was no doubt a lustful component to Henry's behavior, but the pressure to have a son to whom the crown could be passed was enormous, and did not come from Henry alone.

A bit of reading of the history of the Reformation and the history of the period would help you to understand the complexities.

Answer 4

The Anglican Church was present on the Islands we call England (Great Britain) CENTURIES before Henry VIII. There were Celtic Bishops present at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. Henry the VIII was a good Catholic (as were all Anglicans for the first 1500 years or so. His break with Rome was unfortunate, (remember - the Pope himself gave Henry the title of Defender of the Faith, as he was a good Catholic!) but necessary at the time.

I am a Traditional Anglican Priest. My Apostolic roots go all the way back to the Apostles.

Sorry, but saying the Anglican Church started with Henry is so wrong on so many levels.

If you said, "The Church of England" was started by Henry, you would be partly correct. But Anglicanism goes back to the beginning.

Pax vobiscum.

Answer 5

Here is the easiest way to put it for you. The Anglican church is a "breakaway" religion from Roman Catholic Church. As many religions are. Basically they were tired of being run by the Pope. You are correct though. Henry the 8th basically took the "bull by the horns" so to speak on behalf of his supporters to replace Papal authority. I am Anglican (non practicing) and am supportive of Henry the 8th's decision. If we go back in time all religions are "breakaway religions of some religion. ie. different interpretations of the old testiment or the new, and then there are others that are fanatically the other way, this being cults. Cults basically being that the founder believes he/she is the second comming and recruits followers ie. David Koresh in Waco Texas. I am a firm believer that everyone has their own choices of beliefs and don't knock anyone for who or what they believe or don't belive in. I don't preach my religion to anyone or try to "convert" anyone over. My view is simple. I believe in my religion and lead my life how my God wants me to. Religion is a very personal and individual thing. Great question. Hope I helped:)

Answer 6

The film 'A man for all seasons just about sums up and answers your question There was only one church and that was the Catholic Church and the Pope was Christ's vicar on earth. Successor of Peter. Someone came from Rome to settle the date of Easter as it was celebrated at different times from Rome. This was at the Council of Whitby. It is a fallacy that there were 'two' churches. Henry only appealed to Rome and why not. The Pope could not give him an annulment even if he wanted to.

Answer 7

Henry Eighth left the Catholic Church because they wouldn't let him divorce. The religion didn't change, neither did the beliefs, ecxceot that it did allow him, legally to divorce as he became head of the Church of England. Nothing to do with belief in god

Answer 8

Well all churches are started for essentially selfish reasons. Church and State were much more closely bound together in the 15th Century and what a king said went, it was less sensible to follow a church headed by an Italian Pope 3,000 miles away than a king 300.

And the church was reformed by Luther later on so its really just a matter of church politics rather than doctrine.

Answer 9

After being excumunicated because he wanted a divorce to hitch up with Anne Boylyn he started the Church of England. Odd to think that this church was based on divorce!

Answer 10

YOu're origin is correct.

The Church is very close to the Roman Catholic church in many things, except it allows priests to marry, allows people to divorce and spoke in local language long before Rome allowed that.