Catholicism and Protestantism and British Identity in the 18th Century Essay

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Introduction

The eighteenth century saw British enter a rather active period characterized by religious awakening and the rise of Protestantism. The period featured rebellion against powerful and perceived autocratic religious influence that had taken over the reign power during the 17th century and the early 18th century. During this period, there was a high population growth in Britain, which was characteristic of an increasingly complex society at the time (Colley 135). Amidst religious movements and the call for religious intolerance, Britain faced challenges of reshaping its own identity.

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The religious awakening and the rise of Protestantism had numerous implications on the country’s social, cultural and political structures (Colley 83). There was a shift in the customs that dictated how people, religion and the state related to one another. At thas time, the norms of civility and the state governance structure were influenced by a rather heightened religious struggle that threatened to tear the long-held culture of the nation. As such, the mid-set and the reasoning of the people were overhauled with the change by the then ongoing religious wars that played in the public gallery.

A Movement toward the British Identity

The revival of the rivalry between protestants and the unforgiving authoritarian catholic rules was a major defining moment for the British. Some religious pundits believed that the happenings in the religious sphere and the delicate balance between religious freedom and the persistent spread of catholicism meant that the state had to begin finding a new form of power that was distinct from religion (Colley 135). Thas meant that no single ideology, whether of the state or the church, had the power to direct the identity of the people.

As religious leaders traversed one town after the other, sections of the church begun to form, paving the way for Protestant denominations to grow (Colley 117). Religious dominance, especially of the Catholic church that had vast power, led to splinter groups. The introduction of a new sense of looking at religion and the doctrines that shaped the notion around the nation’s national values were the real game changers. Britain started to experience a renewed sense of reasoning, political and social realignment that was different from the old religious order.

It is worth mentioning, however, that the ongoing dereligionization and the split of the religious frameworks served as a unifying factor that saw Britain created a new form of national consciousness (Colley 67). This meant that both the people, the church and the state started to realize the need for an all-inclusive national effort to redefine the nation’s identity that was free from religious influence.

Anti-Catholicism and the movement toward decentralization of religious power (of influence) was a predominant aspect that shaped the country’s new found values. The new way of life was completely different from the Old England’s lifestyle. A heightened religious situation gave way for the media personalities, religious scholars and stakeholders in the political arena to start a discourse that would later help shape Britain’s identity.

During this time, the media, with the help of the crusaders for a change in religious formations, became the center of the Awakening period and the discourses that were taking place in Britain and its neighboring nations (Colley 103).

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Although political, religious and social differences were apparent, there was one fundamental point that everyone found important: opposition to the mighty Roman Catholicism. Thas meant that Catholicism with its powerful doctrines began to lose its feet as the new found anti-Catholicism became a redemptive force.

The change of guard within religious ranks explained by the Great Awakening provided an invaluable inspiration for a need to create a nation that had a fairly strong political and military influence. This informed British thinking about the extent to which religion must exercise its power to shape the state agenda. A call for the separation of religion from the state was evident during the eighteenth century (Colley 89).

The crusade that focused on downplaying the position of Catholics provided Britain with the basis on which the country’s identity was to be established.

People started to assert their control over Britain’s identity.

The other key implication of this period was the establishment of the notion of the state as the ultimate source of power through which the sovereignty of the people was to be exercised. Initially, the established Roman Empire under the watch of the Catholic church served as the key player in the country’s political arena. The state was to begin to act on behalf of the people by signing a contract with the populace (Colley 112).

The politics of the nation began to take shape with people realizing that power was vested to them and not to the church. Scholastic movements served to inform the people of the role of the state and of the church in which the former had contractual power to act for the people, while the latter was charged with shaping the nation’s social values (Colley 76). There nation began to share common sentiments, especially the fear of the domineering Catholicism (Colley 76). No doubt, the new sense of religious freedom played a significant role in destabilizing the hierarchical order in and the central power of the Catholic church.

Anti-Catholic attitudes and the Protestant spirit furthered the agenda to unite the people in calling for a slowdown in Catholicism. It also rallied the people toward changing their mindset in a way previously unimaginable. People were able to perceive religion as being communitarian—a tool that would be essential in forming social uniformity as opposed to competition envisioned in the ordinary sense of the business world. People, especially Christians developed a sense of self-sacrifice, and this formed the basis for a multi-dimensional approach to issues that affected the society.

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Conclusion

The effects of the great religious awakening provided a fertile ground for the British society to form a new attitude that changed from differential thinking that had taken over Britain’s religion and political spheres. The fact that people developed new ideas, notions and norms meant that every individual was rushing to embrace the new way of thinking. A different interpretation of the Bible and religious teachings gave the people a new impetus and a feeling that they were capable of turning around Britain’s identity using a religious platform.

The flow of power was never to move from the center to the periphery, but rather from the periphery to the center. Proponents of religious revivalism echoed this seemingly timely call for radical religious thinking and the search for free will with respect to forming and attending churches other than Catholic. It was through religious crusades and Protestantism during the first half of the 18th century that the Britons managed to move from the protectorate of the powerful Catholic Church (Colley 68).

Reference

Colley, Linda. Britons: Forging the Nation, 1707-1837. New Haven, Conn: Yale Nota Bene, 2005. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2022, January 28). Catholicism and Protestantism and British Identity in the 18th Century. https://ivypanda.com/essays/catholicism-and-protestantism-and-british-identity-in-the-18th-century/

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"Catholicism and Protestantism and British Identity in the 18th Century." IvyPanda, 28 Jan. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/catholicism-and-protestantism-and-british-identity-in-the-18th-century/.

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IvyPanda. (2022) 'Catholicism and Protestantism and British Identity in the 18th Century'. 28 January.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Catholicism and Protestantism and British Identity in the 18th Century." January 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/catholicism-and-protestantism-and-british-identity-in-the-18th-century/.

1. IvyPanda. "Catholicism and Protestantism and British Identity in the 18th Century." January 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/catholicism-and-protestantism-and-british-identity-in-the-18th-century/.


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IvyPanda. "Catholicism and Protestantism and British Identity in the 18th Century." January 28, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/catholicism-and-protestantism-and-british-identity-in-the-18th-century/.

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