It has been reported tonight that Gordon Brown is intending to announce some big changes to the UK constitution early next week.
One of these changes is reputed to be the disestablishment of the Church of England.
Will such a move undermine the authority of this church within England?
2007-06-28 08:44:40 · 10 answers · asked by pagreen1966 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
antidisestablishmentarianism...i finally got to use that word
2007-06-28 08:50:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Big question.
Obviously, if the CoE is disestablished, it does lose the authority that it has by being the Established State church, but that authority comes from its position in the political structure of Britain. The right to have its bishops appointed to the Upper house of parliament, and its ownership of a large amount of land/property whch was inherited from the time of the dissolution, for example.
However, if you are speaking about its religious authority, then it really has to conform to pretty much the views held and propagated by the Roman/Greek christian churches, if it is to have any religious authority at all, and can really not change or re-interpret that message.
As far as its authority within the state is concerned, it is clear that Britain is a secular state, and the occasional events that had any religious significance are now events taking place on a convenient Monday under a non-religious name. Why the church allowed this to happen is unclear, but it lost a lot of its authority by ignoring this trend. Whatever happened to Whitsun and Pentecost and Michaelmas, for example!
You might also like to note that a state monopoly religion has been declared improper/unlawful under the ?Helsinki Declaration/Accord.
2007-06-28 09:06:23 · answer #2 · answered by Rolf 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure what authority the CofE has left. Influence, perhaps and I doubt if this would wane too much if disestablished. However, as much as I think that separation of church and state is intrinsically sensible, there is still a soft spot inside me somewhere for that grand old british compromise, the Church of England and effectively I suppose if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
2007-07-02 04:24:44 · answer #3 · answered by Mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it will change anything because the English people are not very religious. It would have historical meaning but it would not change the political scene in the UK.
2007-06-28 08:49:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It shouldn't have any authority.
2007-06-28 08:47:10 · answer #5 · answered by Louise 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In practise what authority does it have?
2007-06-28 13:40:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It aint gonna 'appen!
2007-06-28 08:47:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are all going to have to be antidisestablishmentarians then.
2007-06-29 05:03:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pfff that won't happen
2007-06-28 08:49:16 · answer #9 · answered by Mum-Ra 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Would be all for it.
2007-06-28 09:37:28 · answer #10 · answered by gortamor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋