140 likes | 247 Views
Religion in Victorian Britain: institutions and evidence faith culture and society 9C Br. Understanding Religion, historically don’t blame the (good) Marxists. Institution of the Church political institution t heology – intellectual history Robert Webb (1922-2012)
E N D
Religion in Victorian Britain:institutions and evidencefaithculture and society9C Br
Understanding Religion, historicallydon’t blame the (good) Marxists Institution of the Church • political institution • theology – intellectual history Robert Webb (1922-2012) modern social and cultural history belief actually matters biography of Harriet Martineau (1802-76) Unitarian and abolitionist
1851 Census of Religion What did it measure? what was surprising? where were people going to church? why? What was it not able to measure?
Faith formalized In what ways did being a ‘state’ church matter? in government in voting for government in law in education informally
Evangelicalism What is evangelicalism? Who would have been an evangelical? sociologically which institutions what did they want to do? who were some famous ones? 3. Do you think you would like evangelicals?
What was changing in the 19C? 1. Secular meaning of professionalism – institutional manner of defining who is ‘trained’ or not; public status/role 2. Churches as a body – the institutional reflection of God’s laws on earth - their theological texts define specific, unique interpretation 3. Tradition and opinion – human habit, or God’s Will? Why did/does it matter?
Justification by faith alone ? Biblical injunctions Ephesians 5:22 • submit to your husbands as you submit to the Lord. Colossians 3:18 • wives submit to your husbands 1 Corinthians 14:33-36 • women be silent in churches 1 Timothy 2:2:12-13 • women keep silent Hermeneutics or textual criticism the science of reading the Bible
Exceptionalism • allows only some women • allows some women Susanna Wesley (1669-1742)
Challenges from ♀ Vary the place where women teach Preach to an audience allowed or willing to listen Associate with power to act - wives and female relatives of clergy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cfMSqAj0o
Justification by faith alone ? Goes beyond: theology/belief Creation - Fall - Redemption signs and symbols -- professionalized
Justification by faith alone Nature biological difference Nurture identity constructed, shaped by culture, society and Faith revealed ‘truth’
Theology regarding women through institutions, belief and habit God loves you 17C Society of Friends an element of God’s spirit exists in every human soul 1853 Congregationalist Churchthen rescinded – until 1917 1865 Salvation Army ordained both men and women 1911 Mennonite ordained a woman 1920's someBaptistdenominations 1936 United Church of Canada 1967 Presbyterian Church in Canada 1974 Methodist Church (UK) 1974first ♀ rabbi - Jewish Reconstructionist movement 1947 (Hong Kong)70s US, Canada, 1981 (Kenya) 1992 (UK) Episcopal Church /Church of England and RC?
Questions 1. Although the CofE declines throughout this period, it remains the largest denomination in Britain. Why (all) might this be? 2. Can teaching Sunday school to children be considered preaching; how would you define preaching? Why or why not? Why does it matter? [also consider the other strategy – being associated with a man – is that good enough?] 3. Discuss what you think is the best way to measure religiosity in the past. How would you measure that? 4. Since we live in a secular society today [dun, dun, dun, do we??] do we need to understand a past religious perspective? Is it possible even?