Religious tolerance (From The Northern Echo)

Religious tolerance

2:57pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Letters

PETER MULLEN gives the impression that the Church of England was the author of the religious tolerance that exists in Britain today (Echo, Feb 14).

A little knowledge of history shows just how untrue this is.

For example, at the beginnings of Christian power, the writings of Bede and the known history of Christianity in Europe speak of the violent destruction of Christian opponents.

In Britain, the Uniformity Acts of the 16th Century, the Popery Act of 1698, the so-called Toleration Act of 1689, all supported by the Church, meant punishments for Catholics and other dissenters. And the Church of England also opposed the Catholic Relief Act of 1829 designed to give some rights back to Catholics.

As is well-known, the Catholic Queen Mary 1st (Bloody Mary) executed around 300 Protestants in the flames. Blasphemy was punishable by death.

So the idea that historically, toleration was promoted by Christian Churches is simply farfetched.

Today the established church, its powers weakened, applies pressure, not by violence, but by using the notion of tradition, for example, to marginalise nonbelievers at council meetings.

The coercive principle behind this action is, unfortunately, entirely traditional and consistent with church conduct throughout British history.

Philip Nathan North East Humanists.